State Peasant Reform of 1861

The State Peasant Reform of 1861 in Russia was a major change where the government abolished serfdom, freeing millions of peasants from land-based bondage to landowners. Peasants gained personal freedom and the right to own property, but they had to make redemption payments for land they received, often leading to financial burdens. The reform aimed to modernize Russia’s agriculture and society, but it also created new challenges, such as peasant unrest and incomplete land distribution, reflecting a complex transition from traditional serfdom to a more independent peasant class.