REASONS FOR THE EMANCIPATION OF THE SERFS (Alexander II - 1861)

REASONS FOR THE EMANCIPATION OF THE SERFS (Alexander II - 1861)

1. MORALITY

   • Members of the Royal Family had considered that serfdom was MORALLY and ETHICALLY WRONG!
     • Catherine the Great (1762 - 96)
     • Nicholas I
       • "an evil, palpable and obvious to all."
   • Many nobles and liberal state officials had come to accept the view that it was wrong to 'own' someone as if they were a possession/object.
     • Affected/influenced by writers who had drawn attention to the 'plight of the serf.'
       • Turgenenv
       • A radical group of intelligentsia was growing; opposing serfdom!
   • MAJORITY of nobles did NOT emancipation.; argued that it would be damaging to the Russian state, as well as (of course!) their own livelihoods.

2. RISK OF REVOLT

   • Social instability!
   • Disturbances amongst the peasant community had been on the rise since the *1840s.
   • The Russian ARMY was made up mainly of peasants! So, it would have proved difficult for the government to contain a major uprising; if one were to happen.
   • Significant spike in peasant disturbances between the period, *1857 - 1859.
   • The Tsar became so worried, that he issued an order for WEEKLY REPORTS on the 'mood' of the peasant population, *1857.
   • UNRELIABILITY
     • Main sources of data = UNRELIABLE (derived from Tsarist police records!)
     • HISTORIANS argue that the scale of unrest in the peasantry was EXAGGERATED!
     • SOME NOBLES actually believed that MAJOR reform posed the risk of evoking serious peasantry revolts; as, peasants may be 'disappointed' by the reforms, and percieve it as a sign of Russia's weakness.

3. ECONOMIC

   • Many GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS and INTELLECTUALS became enlightened by the growing necessity to abolish serfdom; they were convinced that it was the only way for the Russian economy to advance!
     • Nichlas Milyutin (an official in the Ministry of Interior Affairs)
       • "... Only with the emancipation of the serfs will the betterment of our rural economy become possible."
         • A written MEMORANDUM, *1847.
     • Arguments that FREE LABOUR was MORE PRODUCTIVE than FORCED LABOUR; this was impoverishing the population and reducing the growth for domestic demand, which was essential for economic GROWTH to take place!.
       • A FREE LABOUR MARKET could be the most productive within both agriculture and industry!
         • UNRELIABILITY
           • Immediately AFTER EMANCIPATION, the government introduced internal passports to restrict the movement of the peasantry.
             • This suggests that FREEING LABOUR to allow capitalist growth was NOT the priority!
           • Olga Crisp (a historian)
             • Argued that the poor TRANSPORT SYSTEM was more significant in preventing economic growth.
         • Adam Smith (an economist, at the time)

4. CRIMEAN WAR

   • Drew attention to the state of the Russian Army.
   • Military REFORMERS believed that Russia needed a smaller, better trained army, as well as a reserve force; just like European powers.
     • Would involve shorter conscription periods; a risky operation!
       • Trained serfs would be released back into their poverty-ridden villages, and have the military knowledge to potentially operate an uprising if dissatisified!
         • So, this is why many officials maintained the notion that military reform could ONLY be carried out FOLLOWING the abolition of serfdom!
   • QUESTION OF LOYALTY!
     • For how long would the serfs remain LOYAL if NOTHING was done to improve their living conditions and accommodate their aspirations?