Lesson 2: Reform in Russia

Reforms of Peter I

The Russians, whose ancestors were a group of Eastern Slavs, founded Kievan Rus in the late 9th century, and in the first half of the 13th century Kievan Rus was conquered by the Mongols. During the resistance to the Mongol rule, the Principality of Moscow gradually rose to power and finally unified Russia by the late 15th century. After the reign of Grand Duke Ivan IV of Moscow (1533-1584), he officially adopted the title of "Tsar" and strengthened his autocratic rule.

Under the Tsar's dictatorship, Russia was a closed and backward country where serfdom prevailed. Agriculture and handicrafts mainly used serf labor, and the development of industry and commerce was extremely slow.

After his accession to the throne, Peter I was determined to change the backwardness of Russia and to enrich the country and strengthen its army. He issued a call to learn from the West, issued a series of decrees and carried out comprehensive reforms.

Peter I reorganized the administration and established a centralized administrative system, which further strengthened the tsar's autocratic power. He created a new, disciplined standing army; encouraged the establishment of artisanal workshops and allowed workshop owners to buy entire villages of serfs; required nobles to serve the state in the army or administration and to be promoted on the basis of merit and ability; sent foreign students, founded an academy of sciences, opened schools, started newspapers, and promoted culture and education; and promoted Western manners and dress and lifestyle.

In 1700-1721, Russia defeated Sweden, seized access to the Baltic Sea, and in the process built a new capital, St. Petersburg.

Peter I's reforms, aimed at strengthening the army and learning Western science and technology, started the process of modernization of Russia. Under his rule, however, serfdom was further strengthened and later became an obstacle to the development of Russian society.

Abolition of serfdom

In the middle of the 19th century, Russia's capitalist economy developed, with more and more machine-based workshops and more developed transportation and foreign trade than before. However, serfdom was a serious constraint on Russia's economic development during this period.

In the face of internal and external difficulties, the Tsarist government began to conceive a new reform program. Alexander II thought that instead of waiting for the bottom-up to rise up and liberate itself, it would be better to liberate the peasants from the top down." In 1861, Alexander II issued a decree to abolish serfdom. The decree provided that serfs were free to change their status and occupation, and that they were given a share of land at the same time as they were emancipated, but had to pay for it at a price higher than the prevailing land price. The serfs paid a heavy price for this.

The reform of 1861 was an important turning point in Russian history. The abolition of serfdom led to a new era in all aspects of society and propelled Russia onto the path of capitalist development. However, the remnants of serfdom still existed and affected the economic and social development of Russia.

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