Question

Why did Tsar Alexander II decide to emancipate the serfs? You must include at least 3 reasons.

Answer 1

Tsar Alexander II decided to emancipate the serfs for the following reasons:

1. 19th century is known for transition in the economy from a feudal economy to a capitalist economy, but Russia at that time was nowhere near to such transition concerning other European countries. So, all Russians acknowledged the need to reform to progress.

2.The Russia's heavy defeat in the Crimean War in 1856 came as a heavy blow. And Coming to the throne in 1855 in the middle of the conflict, Alexander II was unable to save Russia from failure plus humiliation in war made him think about internal reforms by removal of serfdom.

3. Russia as a country having a great chunk of land is known for its huge army. Russia's army was a symbol of power but it was in the Crimean War that serfdom failed to provide the calibre of Soldier Russia badly needed.

On the backdrop of this Tsar Alexander II held that “it is better to liberate the serfdom from above than to wait until they won their freedom by uprisings from below”
thus he called for the abolition of serfdom as a part of major agrarian reforms.