Stolypin agrarian reform - success or failure?

click fraud protection

Stolypin agrarian reform became a natural effort to resolve the problems identified by the revolution of 1905 - 1907.Attempts to solve the agrarian question until 1906 there were a few.But they all boil down to either the seizure of land from the landowners and the peasants endow it or to be used for these purposes, the nationalized land.

Stolypin not without reason, decided that the only support of monarchy are just landowners and wealthy peasants.Withdrawal of landed estates meant to undermine the authority of the emperor and, as a consequence, the possibility of another revolution.

To maintain the royal power Pyotr Stolypin in August 1906 was announced by the government program, which proposed a number of reforms with regards to freedom of religion, equality, police regulations, local governments, the peasant question, and education.But of all the proposed incarnation found only Stolypin agrarian reform.Its aim was to destroy the community building and empowerment of the peasants land.The peasant had become the owner of land that had previously belonged to the community.To determine the allotment was two ways:

  • If communal land redistribution has not been subjected to for the past twenty-four years, each farmer at any time could claim put your personal property.
  • If such a redivision was in landownership departed the station, which is processed last.

In addition, farmers were able to buy land on credit for low mortgage rates.For this purpose it was created peasant Credit Bank.Sale of land plots allowed to concentrate large areas in the hands of the most interested and able-bodied peasants.

On the other hand, those who did not have sufficient funds to buy land, Stolypin agrarian reform anticipated move to free territory, where there were uncultivated public lands - to the Far East, Siberia, Central Asia, the Caucasus.The settlers were granted a number of benefits, including a five-year tax exemption, low cost railway ticket, the forgiveness of arrears, the loan in the amount of 100 - 400 rubles without charging interest.

Stolypin agrarian reform, in essence, put farmers in a market economy, where their prosperity depended on how they were able to dispose of their property.It was assumed that at their sites, they will work more efficiently, triggering a flourishing agriculture.Many of them sell the land, while they themselves go to the city to work, which resulted in the influx of labor.Others emigrated abroad in search of better living conditions.

Stolypin agrarian reform and its results do not meet expectations of Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin and Russian government.In total during its implementation from the community it took less than one third of the peasant households.The reason for this was that the reform does not take into account the patriarchal life of the peasants, their fear of self-employment, inability to manage without community support.Over the years, all accustomed to, that the community takes responsibility for each member.

But, nevertheless, the Stolypin agrarian reform had a positive outcome:

  • It was the beginning of private ownership of land.
  • grown yield of peasant land.
  • increased demand for the agricultural industry.
  • increased labor market.