The Emancipation Of The Serfs Flashcards
1
Q
When was the emancipation of the (privately-owned) serfs?
A
1861
2
Q
How did Alexander II show his intention to abolish serfdom? When?
A
- Made a speech on 30 March 1856 to the Marshalls of the Nobility, saying that ‘it is better to abolish serfdom from above, than to wait for that time when it starts to abolish itself from below.’
3
Q
What is the moral case for the EOTS?
A
- Members of the royal family dating from Catherine the Great (1762-96) had considered that serfdom was morally and ethically wrong. Nicholas I himself admitted that serfdom was ‘an evil, palpable and obvious to all’.
- Alexander II had had a liberal upbringing and education. Had travelled far around the empire.
- Enlightened and liberal state officials had come to accept the view that it was wrong to own someone like a possession.
- Influence of new radical intelligentsia.
- Nevertheless, many nobles did not accept the position as it seemed it would damage their own livelihoods and the Russian state.
4
Q
How did the risk of revolt affect the position of serfs?
A
- Concern for social stability, exemplified by AII’s speech.
- Serious peasant revolts in the past, disturbances had been increasing since the 1840s. Had doubled between 1844 and 1860.
- Unsettled by the revolutions in Europe in 1848.
- Army made up of peasants.
- Spike in disturbances between 1857 and 1859, Tsar ordered weekly reports on the mood of the peasantry from Dec 1957.
- Some historians claim the extent of the peasant disturbances have been exaggerated.
- Some nobles believed major reform would have a been a sign of weakness.
5
Q
How did the Crimean war affect the position of serfs in EOTS?
A
- Drew attention to the state of the army. 45% of annual government expenditure.
- Serfs had to serve 25 years (reduced to 15 for those of good character). Many protested conscription.
- Military reformers believed that Russia need a smaller, better trained army with a reserve.
- This would mean many serfs with military training would be released back to their villages on reserve, a risky proposition.
- People therefore believed military reform could only be carried if serfdom was abolished.
- One musket between 2. Humiliation and incompetence. Many defeats.
- How long would the peasants stay loyal in poor conditions?
6
Q
What were the economic reasons for the EOTS?
A
- Many enlightened government officials and intellectuals in Russia believed serfdom was inhibiting economic advancement. E.g Nicholas Milyutin. The government had 54 million roubles in debt because serfs couldn’t pay their taxes.
- Many argued free labour would be more productive than forced labour. Proved by various regions in which serfs were free/paid.
- No training to encourage business ventures. No incentives to innovate/ develop land if landowners took profits.
- Landowners had been pushing for higher rents.
- Free labour would naturally increase domestic demand which was extremely low.
- Free movement would maximise productivity.
- Westernisers wanted Russia to adopt a system like those seen in Europe.
7
Q
What suggests economic reasons were not a main/deciding factor for the EOTS?
A
- Some historians, e.g Olga Crisp, argue that other factors such as the poor transport system were more influential on Russia’s poor economic performance/development.
- After emancipation the government moved to restrict peasant movement by introducing internal passports. This suggests freeing labour to allow capitalist growth was not a main priority. Alexander and his contemporaries did not think in such terms.
8
Q
Describe the process of emancipation, the main debates, and the outcomes.
A
- Took thousands of officials and numerous drafts of plans.
- Main discussion revolved around: whether serfs should be freed with or without land, how much land should be given to each household, how it would be paid for, how much compensation would be given to landowners, whether the nobility should retain judicial and economic control over the former serfs.
- This resulted in the Emancipation Statutes (22 of them) published on 19 February 1861.
Alexander declared that the basic aim was to satisfy serfs and landowners alike. - Serfdom was abolished and serfs were now legally free. Could marry, travel, vote and trade freely (in theory).
- Peasants would have land to go with their freedom. Allowed to keep their houses and the land immediately around it but would have to buy the other land they worked on.
- Make annual redemption payments for the land they were buying. 49 year period.
- Under the control of the Mir, who were strengthened.
- Nobility still play role in policing, would be compensated for loss of land but not for the loss of their rights over their serfs.
9
Q
When were state serfs given the same freedoms?
A
1866- given right to buy land in the same way as privately owned serfs. Could remain tenants.
10
Q
How many privately owned serfs were freed after the 19 February proclamation?
A
23 million.
11
Q
What was the transition period? How long was it?
A
2 years. Obligations to land owner remained the same temporarily, legally free however so could not be sold/sent etc. It allowed time for the local committees to work out the area that should be allocated to each peasant. The stock of land was given to the village and the village community then designated parcels of land to individual peasants. They would not own their land until the last redemption payment had been made,
12
Q
What were the key aspects of the emancipation arrangement? (3)
A
- Most peasants received slightly less land than they had originally worked. Many received small strips of land that produced little yield/profit. The populous Black Earth region had allocations which were well below average. As a result many had to work as hired labour for nobles to make ends meet.
- Landowners received more than the market value of the land they were handing over. Peasants therefore payed higher redemption payments to the government. The landowners also decided which bits of their land they wanted to hand over - so kept the best areas. Overall landowners retained 2/3 of the land, with peasants receiving only 1/3. Reimbursed in government bonds.
- The Mir were strengthened for administrative reasons and to maintain order. They collected redemption payments and other taxes. If peasants left the area the land would revert to the Mir, it could not be sold. They also issued internal passports which it was hoped would prevent mass movement of peasants. They were now tied to the Mir.
13
Q
What were the consequences of the emancipation?
A
- Peasants felt cheated because of 49 years of redemption payments. >1000 disturbances in 1861, one involving 10,000 peasants. Army brought in to restore order in 300 estates. Such sentiment was quickly extinguished.
- Nobles were disgruntled because they felt they had not been compensated fairly for their loss of rights over the serfs, land, status and influence.
- Some nobles called for gentry representatives to form a national commission to prevent bureaucrats damaging their interests again.
- More liberal ones wanted elected representatives from all over Russia. There was clear dislike for emancipation from the gentry, criticism of the regime was stirred.
- Much of the money paid to the nobles was used to pay off existing debts etc. Many, who did want to/could not afford the transition to hired labour, moved to towns and rented out their land. Some simply sold out, noble landholdings decreased from 87 - 50 million desyatina (1862-1905).
- Radical intelligentsia saw the emancipation as having protected the gentry and betrayed the peasants.
- The role of the kulak evolved, they rented land from the gentry and hired labour from other poorer serfs.
- Milyutin sacked to appease conservative gentry who were unhappy with settlement, he had to keep his support base on side.
- Traditional farming methods remained largely unchanged. Mir resisted any change.
- Peasant owned land increased from 6 -21.6 million hectares (1877-1905). 2.1% grain production increase (1883-1914).
- Population increase 50-97 million (1861-1897). Put pressure on land and deacreased
14
Q
Which treaty brought the Crimean War to an end?
A
- The Treaty of Paris.
15
Q
What financial measure made redemption payments even more difficult?
A
Interest at 6%.
