emancipation of the serfs

The emancipation of the serfs was a major social reform in 19th-century Russia, where the government freed millions of peasants from serfdom, a system that bound them to land and their landlords. This meant they gained personal freedom and the ability to own property or move freely, but they often had to pay compensation to landowners for the land they farmed. The reform aimed to modernize agriculture and society, reducing feudal control and creating more opportunities for economic growth. Although it provided legal freedom, many former serfs faced economic difficulties and continued to struggle with land and livelihood issues.