In the second half of the nineteenth century, the Russian Empire was a series of reforms, aims to transform the purpose of socio-political system according to the requirements of the time, one of them was the abolition of serfdom and specially introduced for this post - the conciliator.
peasant question under Alexander I
By the middle of this century, Russia came up with a very weak economy and agriculture, the defeat in the Crimean war has further aggravated all the negative processes of the Russian reality.Since the beginning of the XIX century in a society constantly raised the issue of the abolition of serfdom.Alexander I was initially set very liberal and too inclined to the decision.Especially after the victory of our country in the War of 1812 and foreign campaigns reformist efforts not only among the intelligentsia, but also among the peasants, and progressive-minded landowners.Alexander Pavlovich was well aware of all this, but in no hurry to conduct reforms, and after a series of revolutionary action in some European countries and renounced any change in the position of farmers.The law "On the free cultivators," and liberation from dependence of peasants Baltic states, which were very few - all measures taken to alleviate the situation of the peasants.
viewpoint of Nicholas I Pavlovich
heir of the emperor's younger brother Nicholas, the family had a reputation for sure conservative Decembrist uprising in 1825, has further strengthened it in this direction.After his suppression of the Emperor himself took part in the interrogation of participants of revolt, and in front of him loomed the whole disappointing clear picture of the Russian reality.Nicholas I agree with that statement, that serfdom in Russia - is evil, but to change something in the circumstances, he felt an even greater evil.
Nevertheless, his reign of the emperor's favorite Count Arakcheev drafted emancipation of the serfs, the needs of which required each year about five million rubles, and the process was extended in time for an indefinite period.Even this very limited project called open resistance from government circles.Finance Minister Count Kankrin said that kind of money in the treasury not, so you need to find another way out, all the other polupopytki also came to nothing.Nicholas I for his reign long enough so nothing done to alleviate the plight of farmers.Meanwhile, the economy continued to grow at a slow pace, which resulted in further developments.
shift to a "dead point"
In 1856, ascended the throne the eldest son Nicholas, Alexander II.He was already formed person and personality, of great importance was the fact that the tutor of the heir was Vasily Zhukovsky, poet, liberal-minded and try to instill in them his pupil.From the first days of the reign of Alexander has declared intention to abolish the harmful and shameful phenomenon - serfdom.It all started with a public debate on the reform, which gives it a transparent manner and irreversibility.In the capital there were a number of reform projects.In 1859, it was created by the drafting commission which had to analyze and combine all of the projects, seeking the most appropriate result for the landowners and peasants.The work was in a situation of extreme contradictions, though the king did not give in to difficulties and insisted.By early 1861 all the preparations have been completed, and 19 February was declared a manifesto to abolish serfdom, servile status of peasants fell, however, for reform needed to create a lot of new bodies and officials, who have watched her performance.So there is a lower actuator - conciliator.
"Freedom"
«The provisions of the Manifesto 1861" determined the basic problem of these individuals as the registration of the relationship between a landowner and a farmer on the basis of agreement between them, known as "statutory charter."Also, peace mediators - people whose responsibilities included oversight of local government in rural units, the approval of elected posts (peasant headman, foreman parish).If necessary, a conciliator could remove them from office.In relation to the peasants, he was endowed with judicial and police authorities, to understand the various minor conflicts, could be arrested and assign corporal punishment.The site, which served one broker, spanning from three to five townships.Across the Empire acted about 1714 of these officials.They are appointed from among the nobles of the area on the proposal of the governor and leader of the nobility.Above presented a list of problems that are solved conciliator, 1861 was the most productive, many have been appointed from among progressive landowners, among them were Leo Tolstoy, N.Pirogov.As the further course of events content generated on a mediator decreased with each passing year.
Results reforms
However, they have played a very important role in the reform.It is thanks to them to maintain a balance between the interests of the peasants, although they are infringed, but it did not acquire the character of crying.And the most important thing was to make them legally correct mutual interests of both sides of a document, what were charters.International mediators tried to every peasant and the landlord as soon as possible formalized redemption transaction, as well as to the state of the temporarily peasants was extremely prolonged.The activities of these officials was discontinued in 1874, and instead created two independent institutions.However, they have little interest in the needs of farmers and soon became part of a huge bureaucratic apparatus of the Russian Empire.But the main thing was done: the peasants were freed, and peace mediators - the symbol of freedom for the peasants.
