Liberal reforms of the 60-70s of the 19th century of the Russian Empire

Alexander II was the All-Russian emperor, Polish king and Grand Duke of Finland in the period from 1855 to 1881. He came from the dynasty of the Romanovs.

I remember Alexander II as an outstanding innovator, conducting liberal reforms of the 60-70s of the 19th century. About whether they have improved or worsened the socio-economic and political situation in our country, historians are still arguing. But the role of the emperor is difficult to overestimate. Not for nothing in Russian historiography, he is known as Alexander the Liberator. Such an honorary title the ruler received for the abolition of serfdom. Alexander II died as a result of the terrorist act, the responsibility for which was assumed by the activists of the Narodnaya Volya movement.

Judicial reform

In 1864 the most important document was issued, which in many ways changed the justice system in Russia. It was the Judicial Regulations. It was in him that the liberal reforms of the 60-70s of the XIX century were very bright. This charter became the basis of a unified system of courts, whose activities should henceforth be based on the principle of equality of all strata of the population before the law. Now the meetings, which dealt with both civil and criminal cases, became public, and their result was to be published in print media. The parties to the lawsuit obtained the right to use the services of a lawyer who has a higher legal education and is not a member of the public service.

Despite the significant innovations aimed at strengthening the capitalist system, liberal reforms of the 60-70s of the 19th century still preserved the survivals of serfdom. For the peasants, specialized volost courts were created, which, as punishment, could be assigned to beatings. If political processes were considered, then administrative repression was inevitable, even if the verdict was justified.

Zemsky Reform

Alexander II was aware of the need to introduce changes in the system of local government. The liberal reforms of the 1960s and 1970s led to the creation of elective zemstvo bodies. They had to deal with issues related to taxation, with medical assistance, primary education, financing, etc. Elections to the county and zemstvo boards were held in two stages and provided the majority of seats in them to the nobles. The peasants were given an insignificant role in solving local problems. This situation persisted until the end of the 19th century. A slight change in the proportions was achieved by entering the kulaks and merchants, who came from the peasant environment, to the government.

Zemstvos were elected for four years. They dealt with issues of local self-government. In any cases affecting the interests of the peasants, the decision was made in favor of the landlords.

Military reform

The changes in the army were touched. The liberal reforms of the 60-70s of the 19th century were dictated by the need for urgent modernization of military mechanisms. D. Milyutin was in charge of the transformations. The reform was carried out in several stages. First, the whole country was divided into military districts. For this purpose, a number of documents were issued. The central act was the normative act on universal military service, signed by the emperor in 1862. He replaced the recruiting set in the army by universal mobilization, regardless of estates. The main goal of the reform was to reduce the number of soldiers in peacetime and the possibility of prompt collection in the event of an unexpected start of hostilities.

As a result of the reforms, the following results were achieved:

1. An extensive network of military and cadet schools was created, in which representatives of all classes were engaged.
2. The strength of the army was reduced by 40%.
3. The main headquarters and military districts were established.
4. In the army, the tradition of corporal punishment for the slightest fault was abolished.
5. Global rearmament.

Peasant Reform

Serfdom during the reign of Alexander II was almost obsolete. Conducted by the Russian Empire liberal reforms 60-70 years. XIX century with the main goal of creating a more developed and civilized state. It was impossible not to touch upon the most important sphere of social life. The peasant unrest grew stronger, especially after the exhausting Crimean War. The state appealed to this stratum of the population for support in the course of hostilities. The peasants were sure that the reward for this would be their emancipation from landlord arbitrariness, but their hopes were not justified. Increasingly, riots broke out. If in 1855 there were 56 of them, in 1856 their number exceeded 700 already.
Alexander the Second ordered the creation of a specialized committee on peasant business, which included 11 people. In the summer of 1858, a draft reform was presented. He assumed the organization of committees on the ground, which would include the most authoritative representatives of the aristocratic nobility. They were given the right to amend the draft.

The main principle on which the liberal reforms of the 60-70s of the 19th century were based in the sphere of serfdom was the recognition of the personal independence of all subjects of the Russian Empire. Nevertheless, the landowners remained full owners and owners of land on which the peasants worked. But the latter were given the opportunity to buy out the land they worked with, in time, along with the farm buildings and living quarters. The project caused a wave of outrage both on the part of the landlords and peasants. The latter were against landless liberation, arguing that "you will not be full of one air."

Fearing the aggravation of the situation connected with peasant riots, the government is making substantial concessions. The new draft of the reform was more radical. The peasants were given personal freedom and a piece of land in permanent possession with the subsequent right of redemption. For this purpose, a soft loan program was developed.

On February 19, 1861 the emperor signed a manifesto, which legislatively reinforced the innovations. After that, normative acts were adopted, which resolved in detail the issues that arose during the implementation of the reform. After serfdom was abolished, the following results were achieved:

1. The peasants received personal independence, as well as the opportunity to dispose of all their property at their own will.
2. The landlords remained full owners of their land, but were obliged to give the former serfs certain plots.
3. For the use of leased plots the peasants had to pay a rent, which could not be waived for nine years.
4. The dimensions of the corvee and allotment were recorded in special certificates, which were checked by intermediary bodies.
5. Peasants in due course could redeem the ground area in coordination with the lessor.

Education reform

The system of education has also changed. Real schools were created, in which, in contrast to standard gymnasiums, emphasis was placed on mathematics and natural sciences. In 1868, Moscow's only high-level courses for women began to function, which was a major breakthrough in the field of gender equality.

Other reforms

In addition to all of the above, the changes have affected many other spheres of life. So, the rights of the Jews have significantly expanded. They were allowed to move freely throughout Russia. Representatives of the intelligentsia, doctors, lawyers and craftsmen had the right to move and work on the specialty.

A detailed study of the liberal reforms of the 60-70-ies of the XIX century, the 8th grade of secondary school.