ALEXANDER II

FROM Manifesto Emancipating the Serfs

The emancipation of twenty-two million serfs in 1861 constitutes the most ambi-

tious social reform of nineteenth-century Russia. Although Russia' s socioeconomic

structure did not undergo radical change after 1861, the abolition of serfdom inau-

gurated a series of judicial, military, and governmental reforms that liberalized Rus-

sian society. Extending basic civil liberties to Russians was the necessary first step in

the effort to westernize Russia within the Tsarist autocratic tradition.

Called by Divine Providence and the sacred law of succession to Our ancestral AllRussian Throne, in response to which call We vowed in Our heart to embrace in Our Royal love and Solicitude all Our faithful of every rank and estate . . . ; investigating the condition of [those] who comprise the State, We saw that State law, while actively promoting the welfare of the higher and middle estates defining their obligations, rights, and privileges, has not equally favored the bonded people, so called because as a matter partly of old laws and partly of current custom they have been hereditarily bound to the anthority of landlords, who are obliged accordingly to see to their welfare. Hitherto the rights of the lords were broad and not precisely defined in law, wherefore tradition, custom, and the lord's good will prevailed. At best this [system] produced good patriarchal relations of sincere solicitude and benevolence on the part of the lords and goodnatured submission from the peasants. But owing to the decline of morals, an increase in the variety of relationships, and a lessening of the lords' direct paternal relations with their peasants, whereupon landlord rights sometimes fell into the hands of persons seeking only their own advantage; good relations weakened, and the way was opened to an arbitrariness that has been burdensome for the peasants and not conducive to their welfare, whence they have shown indifference to any improvement in their lives.

Such was perceived by Our Predecessors of worthy memory, and they took steps to improve the condition of the peasantry. But these steps were only partly successful, depending as they did on the good will and voluntary action of landlords and applicable as they were only to certain localities, as required by special circumstances or by way of experiment....

We were therefore convinced that the task of improving the condition of the bonded people is a legacy to Us from Our Predecessors, and a destiny conferred upon Us in the course of events by the hand of Providence.

We began this task by an act of trust in the Russian Nobility, knowing of its great proofs of loyalty to the Throne and of its readiness to make sacrifices for the good of the Fatherland. We left it to the Nobility Itself to assemble and consider a new arrangement of peasant affairs, whereupon it was proposed to the Nobles to limit their rights over peasants and to bear the difficulties of a transformation that would entail losses to themselves, And Our trust was justified. Through its representatives in the Provincial Committees chosen by the whole Nobility of every province, the Nobility voluntarily renounced any rights to the person of the bonded ones. These Committees, after collecting the needed information, drew up proposals regarding a new order for people living in bondage and relations with lords.

Having called on God for assistance, We are resolved to complete this task.

Pursuant to these new Statutes, the bonded people are to receive in due course the full rights of free rural inhabitants.

The landlords, preserving their right of ownership of all lands belonging to them, are to grant to the peasants, in return for a certain obligation, perpetual use of their homestead as well as such quantity of plowland and other goods as is provided in the Statutes, so that they may be secure in their livelihood and fulfill their duties to the Government.

In taking advantage of this land allotment, the peasants are thereby required to fulfill the obligations to lords specified in the Statutes. In this condition, which is transitional, the peasants are temporarily obligated.

They are also to be given the right to buy their homestead; and with their lord's agreement they may acquire ownership of the plowland and other goods assigned to their perpetual use. On acquiring ownership of said land, the peasants are freed of any duties owed on it to the lord, and thus enter the well-defined estate of free peasant proprietors.

A Special Statute defines the transitional status of domestic folk, as appropriate to their duties and needs. Two years after publication of this Statute, they will receive complete freedom and certain temporary privileges.

Although these Statutes, the General, Local, and Supplementary Rules for certain special localities, for small landowners, and for peasants working in their lords' factories or industries, have been adapted as far as possible to local economic needs and practices; nevertheless, to preserve the Nobility voluntarily renounced any rights to the person of the bonded ones. These Committees, after collecting the needed information, drew up proposals regarding a new order for people living in bondage and relations with lords.

Having called on God for assistance, We are resolved to complete this task.

Pursuant to these new Statutes, the bonded people are to receive in due course the full rights of free rural inhabitants.

The landlords, preserving their right of ownership of all lands belonging to them, are to grant to the peasants, in return for a certain obligation, perpetual use of their homestead as well as such quantity of plowland and other goods as is provided in the Statutes, so that they may be secure in their livelihood and fulfill their duties to the Government.

In taking advantage of this land allotment, the peasants are thereby required to fulfill the obligations to lords specified in the Statutes. In this condition, which is transitional, the peasants are temporarily obligated.

T11ey are also to be given the right to buy their hom4tead; and with their lord's agreement they may acquire ownership of the plowland and other goods assigned to their perpetual use. On acquiring ownership of said land, the peasants are freed of any duties owed on it to the lord, and thus enter the well-defined estate of free peasant proprietors.

A Special Statute defines the transitional status of domestic folk, as appropriate to their duties and needs. Two years after publication of this Statute, they will receive complete freedom and certain temporary privileges.

Although these Statutes, the General, Local, and Supplementary Rules for certain special localities, for small landowners, and for peasants working in their lords' factories or industries, have been adapted as far as possible to local economic needs and practices; nevertheless, to preserve the customary order where it is mutually advantageous We leave it to the lords to reach voluntary understandings with peasants and to conclude agreements regarding the extent of the peasants' land allotments and corresponding obligations, observing therein the rules laid down for preserving the inviolability of such agreements.

As this new arrangement, given the inescapable complexity of the changes required by it, cannot be introduced at once, but rather needs time for that, meaning not less than two years: so in the course of this time, to avoid confusion, and to maintain the public and private good, the order hitherto existing on seigneurial estates should be preserved until, on completion of the necessary preparations, the new order will begin.

Considering the inescapable difficulties involved in this transformation, We place Our hope first of all in the surpassing goodness of Divine Providence, which protects Russia.

Then do We rely on the valiant zeal for the common good of the Well-born Noble estate, to whom We cannot fail to express, on behalf of Ourselves and the whole Fatherland, well-deserved recognition of unselfish execution of Our designs. Russia will not forget that, prompted only by respect for human dignity and Christian love of neighbor, they voluntarily renounced the law of bondage and laid the basis of a new economic future for peasants. We assuredly expect that with like nobility they will exhibit the utmost care in seeing that the new Statutes are carried out in good order, and in a spirit of peace and benevolence; that every landowner will complete, on his own land, the great civic act of his entire estate; and that, having arranged the affairs of the peasants settled on his land and of his domestic folk on terms advantageous to both sides, he will thus give a good example to the rural people and an incentive to exact and conscientious fulfillment of State regulations.

Mindful of examples of the landowners' generous solicitude for the good of peasants, and of the peasants' recognition of same, We are confirmed in Our hope that mutual voluntary agreements will resolve most of the difficulties that are unavoidable when general rules are applied to the varying circumstances of individual estate lands. In this way the transition from the old order to the new will be alleviated, and mutual trust, good accord, and a unanimous aspiration for the common good will be strengthened in the future.

And We place Our hope in the good sense of Our people.

When word of the Government's plan to abolish the law of bondage reached peasants unprepared for it, there arose a partial misunderstanding. Some thought about freedom and forgot about obligations. But the general good sense was not disturbed in the conviction that anyone freely enjoying the goods of society correspondingly owes it to the common good to fulfill certain obligations, both by natural reason and by Christian law, according to which "every soul must be subject to the governing authorities" and "pay all of them their dues," in particular "labor, tribute, fear, and honor" * * * rights legally acquired by the landlords cannot be taken from them without a decent return or voluntary concession; and that it would be contrary to all justice to make use of the lords' land without bearing the corresponding obligations.

And now We hopefully expect that the bonded people, as a new future opens before them, will understand and accept with gratitude the irnportant sacrifice made by the Well-born Nobility for the improvement of their lives.

They will understand that, receiving the advantages of ownership and the freedom to conduct their own affairs, they owe it to society and to themselves to realize the beneficence of the new law by a loyal, judicious, and diligent exercise of the rights granted to them. The most beneficent law cannot make people happy if they do not themselves labor to build their happiness under the protection of the law. Prosperity is acquired and increased only by hard work, the judicious use of strength and resources, strict economy, and, overall, by an honest, God-fearing life.

Make the sign of the cross, Orthodox people, and invoke with Us God's blessing on thy free labor, the pledge of thine own prosperity and of the public good.

Given at St. Petersburg in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred sixty-one, and of Our Reign the seventh.