Russia in 1855

Mikhail I founds the Romanov dynasty in 1613
Russia was goegraphically large but economically underdeveloped
- Ratio of village to town dwellers was around 1:11
Around 85% were illiterate
Serfodom was very much in force in 1855:
- Empire ruled by an Autocratic Tsar
Tsar was head of the Russian Orthodox Church

Alex II becomes Tsar in March 1855
- Russia was coming to the final stages of the war.
- They had been fighting the British, French and Turkish since 1853.
Suffered multiple defeats - i.e. Battle of Balaclava, Battle of Inkerman
The empire was losing the war and were defeated by 1856.
- Spent 45% of their total GDP per annum on the conflict
- The military was inadequate - poorly trained, under-supplied

Alex II had knowledge of serfdom
- He travelled the empire
- Served on his father’s Council of States
- He led the Serfdom committee
He believed that Serf emancipation would curb tensions and stimulate the economy.
- His family share this view
Other motives for emancipation
- Political
  - Autocracy depended on the nobility, the nobility relied on serfs to make money
  - The growing serf population meant declining incomes and many had been forced to mortgage their land.
  - Younger members of the nobility had become apathetic, demotivated and critical of the regime itself
- Economic
  - Kept peasants where they were and prevented them from moving to factories in town
    - Internal demand for goods was low
  - In 1859, the Empire’s debt was around 54m roubles
- Ethical
  - The West believed that the Empier should abolish serfdom
  - Philosophical arguments were made which suggested the immorality of keeping serfs like animals