On March 3, 1861, Tsar Alexander II granted new rights to the peasants by passing his emancipation edict. These rights allowed for peasants to own property, marry as they chose, and file suits in the court of law. As there were pro’s to the emancipation, there were also cons. One of the limitations of this emancipation was that peasants had to purchase land from their landowners, however the landowners got to keep the good pieces of property. Even though this may seem like a great idea for the peasants, it was not because of the rising population of peasants. Another negative side of the emancipation, was the fact that the peasants really did not own their land but the village commune did. The peasants were expected to repay the state in long term installments, as the state paid the landowners to give land to the peasants. The village commune’s that these sanctions of land were located in collected the payments from the peasants, which in return paid back the state. If the village commune did not receive their payments, the peasants were not allowed to leave their land until the amount was paid. This shows that the peasants really did not gain their freedom completely. On the other hand, these reforms were not the only reforms that
On March 3, 1861, Tsar Alexander II granted new rights to the peasants by passing his emancipation edict. These rights allowed for peasants to own property, marry as they chose, and file suits in the court of law. As there were pro’s to the emancipation, there were also cons. One of the limitations of this emancipation was that peasants had to purchase land from their landowners, however the landowners got to keep the good pieces of property. Even though this may seem like a great idea for the peasants, it was not because of the rising population of peasants. Another negative side of the emancipation, was the fact that the peasants really did not own their land but the village commune did. The peasants were expected to repay the state in long term installments, as the state paid the landowners to give land to the peasants. The village commune’s that these sanctions of land were located in collected the payments from the peasants, which in return paid back the state. If the village commune did not receive their payments, the peasants were not allowed to leave their land until the amount was paid. This shows that the peasants really did not gain their freedom completely. On the other hand, these reforms were not the only reforms that