The emancipation of the serfs, 1861

The emancipation of the serfs, 1861

FREE PEASANTS

GREATER INCENTIVE TO WORK

GRAIN SURPLUS

EXPORT OF GRAIN PROVIDING MONEY FOR LANDOWNERS/STATE

INVESTMENT IN INDUSTRY WITHIN RUSSIA

MOBILE PEASANTRY MOVING TO TOWNS TO WORK IN INDUSTRY

GREATER PROSPERITY 

What was serfdom?

• A serf was a bonded labourer.
• Over-half the serfs were privately owned but some were state owned who lived on the Tsar's land and generally enjoyed more freedom than their counterparts.
• They were also divided into those paying rent (Obrok) and those who paid with their labour (barschina)
• Those paying rent had some freedom to practise a trade, but the lord would vary their rent depending on how profitable their trade might be. This stunted enterprise as…