How did serfdom develop in and then leave Russia?
Question answers (1)
Serfdom development in Russia:
Serfdom developed in Russia during the mid-16th century as a result of the increasing power of landowners, who were able to gain control over the labor of peasants. This system of serfdom was legalized by the 1649 law code known as the "Code of Law of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich" which defined the legal status of slaves as well as the duties of the landowners.
Under this system, the serfs, who were legally tied to the land they worked on, were considered as the property of their owners and were subjected to extreme exploitation, including excessive labor and brutal punishments. Despite several attempts to reform the serf system, it continued to exist for more than three centuries.
Reasons for the end of serfdom in Russia:
In the 19th century, the rise of industrialization and the French Revolution renewed calls to end serfdom in Russia. The Tsarist government, which saw serfdom as an obstacle to modernization, faced growing pressure from the Western European powers to abolish the system to gain their support.
The process of abolition of serfdom in Russia:
Tsar Alexander II, recognizing the need for modernization, issued the Emancipation Manifesto on February 19, 1861, which abolished serfdom and recognized the rights of the peasants. Under this law, serfs were granted the right to own land and were no longer subject to forced labor, although they had to pay high redemption payments to their former landowners. Additionally, the peasants had to work for the landowners for a few more years to compensate for their freedom.
The process of implementing the manifesto was gradual, and the landowners strongly resisted these changes. The implementation of the law, in reality, led to divided land ownership, and peasant revolts were common throughout the process.
Conclusion:
Thus, serfdom in Russia was a system that was legally abolished after more than three centuries of its existence, a result of a combination of external pressures and internal motives of rulers.