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Reasons and Impact of Emancipation, Reasons, Positive, Negative, Impact -…
Reasons and Impact of Emancipation
Not Economic
emancipation was a step back for most, 20% less land than pre emancipation
NO new workforce established due to internal passports, limiting movement
peasants would struggle to pay off 49 year redemption payments, prevented movement to cities, limited industrialisation
really limited the freedom of peasants
allowed serfs to become free and in theory no longer under control or ownership of nobility or landowners
Most peasants could not generate and sell surplus grain and therefore could not afford to honour 49 year redemption payments. Stuck with huge unpayable debt, which left nobility annoyed they weren't receiving redemption payments. Peasants who failed to pay could work for the landlord for 30-40 days a year without pay to go towards paying off debt
Freedom of serfs as AII had planned wpuld have allowed serfs to farm from their land allocations and produce surplus grain. This could be sold for profit which allow peasants to purchase luxury items.
Many peasants cheated from being freed. Land allocations were unfair and were provided with allotments that would not be big enough to grow surplus grain
Peasants could now be more socially mobile, as selling grain gave them money to move up class system. This can be seen with the Kulaks who were able to benefit from their land allocations and buy additional land and sell extra grain
Emancipation of serfs also provided a starting point of future reforms, which positively impacted lives of peasants. Could marry who they wished and own property
Additional reform examples would be judiciary reform of innocent until proven guilty and fairer trials for peasants. Now handed by professionals, additionally less chance of corruption due to high pay and training
Land was irregular shapes which proved difficult to farm
Peasant Communes, the Mir received little land to allocate to peasants, meaning worse quality of land given to peasants, keeping landowners happy with their high quality land. Gov had to allocate meadows, pasture, woodland.
75% of all allotments were less than 4 dessyatinas, 5 was considered enough if good soil to feed family. On average peasant families now farmed 20% less than before emancipation
Households serfs received no land, just freedom
Pressure from nobility
growing feelinf of nobles of the unfairness of a soc based on slavery. Leading figures who pushed for reform were Grand Duke Konstanin and aunt Grand Duchess Pavlova. Reforming Milyutin brothers also leading figures in pushing for reform.
Economic
Free peasantry meant they had large incentive for creating a surplus, could be sold for profit
surplus that is sold would generate the government money through taxes. Gov could use this money to invest in industry or improve technology
Kulaks were able to better themselves 'a wealthy peasant'. Buying up land and produce surplus to export- although led to jealousy and resentment
Those who sold their lands to kulaks could move to city to help industrialise the country
Some nobles used compensation to pay off debts and invest in industry.
Crimean War
Showed Russia to be weak and in need of reform. Lost war within its own empire.
Serfdom prevented industrialisation, it had outdated technology in CW (wooden ships)
Army was based on conscripted peasants for 25 years, were of poor health
Emancipation would give Russia money to invest into armed forces
Risk of revolt
"Better to abolish serfdom from above than wait for a time when it starts to abolish itself" AII 1856. Shows fear
Increase in peasant violence in 1840s, especially during CW due to conscription. Doubled since 1844
Reasons
Positive
Negative
Impact