Emancipation of the Serfs

History Essay Why did emancipation take place in Russia in 1861? The emancipation of the Serfs, the peasants owned by the nobility and the rich, was a question that plagued Tsars years before Alexander II granted the Emancipation Ukase in February 1861. In 1858 the serfs of private landowners comprised 22.8 million persons and for centuries had being providing, along with the state peasants, the backbone to Russia economy and comprised a large percentage of all the recruits in …

…wished to restore Russia to prominence, and the effect of the Crimean war and the Military arguments put forward were key elements to Russia’s proposed return to prominence, yet, even without the support of the nobility and the general fear of change throughout Russia, Alexander pressed for what he wanted and thought was right. Bibliography: Russia 1815-81 Russell Sherman Emancipation & Reform in Russia 1855-81 Maureen Perrie From Vienna to Versailles L. C. B Seaman