"The Situation of Peasants in the Russian Empire in the First Half of the XIX-th Century"

Ershov, Bogdan Anatolyevich, Ovchinnikova, Tatyana Valentinovna, Fedyanin, Vitaly Ivanovich

Abstract

The article shows that during this historical period, Russia was in a state of decline of the feudal-serf system, while simultaneously forming the prerequisites for the development of capitalist relations. The agricultural sector, based on agriculture and cattle breeding, remained the backbone of the economy, and the majority of the empires inhabitants were peasants. The nobility continued to hold a dominant and privileged position in society. The peasant class was divided into three main groups: landlords, appanage and state peasants. Research shows that at this time the exploitation of the serf population was getting tougher: the size of the rent and corvee increased, and their few rights were further restricted. There were significant differences in administrative control over different categories of peasants. The state peasants were subordinate to the provincial administration, and their internal self-government was organized according to the volost principle. The appanage peasants were managed by the Department of Estates, which relied on an extensive apparatus of local authorities. Serfs owned by landlords were not directly regulated by government agencies. Their lives depended entirely on the will of the owner, implemented by him personally or through appointed managers, clerks and elected prefects.

Keywords: peasant, land, society, serf, reform, country.

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Citation

Ershov, Bogdan Anatolyevich, Ovchinnikova, Tatyana Valentinovna, Fedyanin, Vitaly Ivanovich "The Situation of Peasants in the Russian Empire in the First Half of the XIX-th Century" Agrarian History, Number 26, 2026 P. 3 - 13. doi: 10.52270/27132447_2026_26_3