The_decline_of_serfdom History_of_serfdom

end of serfdom: german „freilassungsbrief“ (letter end of serfdom) 1762.

in german history emancipation of serfs came in 1770-1830, beginning schleswig in 1780. prussia abolished serfdom october edict of 1807, upgraded personal legal status of peasantry , gave them ownership of half or two-thirds of lands working. edict applied peasants holdings above size, , included both crown lands , noble estates. peasants freed obligation of personal services lord , annual dues; in return landowners given ownership of 1/3 1/2 of land. peasant owned , rented lands deeded old owners. other german states imitated prussia after 1815.

in sharp contrast violence characterized land reform in french revolution, germany handled peacefully. in schleswig peasants, had been influenced enlightenment, played active role; elsewhere largely passive. indeed, peasants, customs , traditions continued largely unchanged, including old habits of deference nobles legal authority remained quite strong on villagers. old paternalistic relationship in east prussia lasted 20th century. new peasant sell land, enabling him move city, or buy land of neighbors.

the land reforms in northwestern germany driven progressive governments , local elites. abolished feudal obligations , divided collectively owned common land private parcels , created more efficient market-oriented rural economy. produced increased productivity , population growth. strengthened traditional social order because wealthy peasants obtained of former common land, while rural proletariat left without land; many left cities or america. meanwhile, division of common land served buffer preserving social peace between nobles , peasants. east of elbe river, junker class maintained large estates , monopolized political power.

the eradication of feudal system marks beginning of era of rapid change in europe. change in status following enclosure movements beginning in later 18th century, in various lords abandoned open field farming of previous centuries and, essentially, took best land in exchange freeing serfs, may have made serfdom seem more desirable many peasant families.

in book das kapital, in chapter 26 entitled secret of primitive accumulation , chapter 27, expropriation of agricultural population land , marx claimed feudal relationships of serfdom violently transformed private property , free labour: free of possession , free sell labour force on market. being liberated serfdom meant being able sell 1 s land , work wherever 1 desired. so-called primitive accumulation, therefore, nothing else historical process of divorcing producer means of production. appears primitive, because forms pre-historic stage of capital , of mode of production corresponding it.

in case history of england, marx described how serfs became free peasant proprietors , small farmers, were, on time, forcibly expropriated , driven off land, forming property-less proletariat. claimed more , more legislation enacted state control , regiment new class of wage workers. in meantime, remaining farmers became capitalist farmers operating more , more on commercial basis; , gradually, legal monopolies preventing trade , investment entrepreneurs broken up.

taxes levied state took place of labour dues levied lord. although serfdom began decline in europe in middle ages, took many hundreds of years disappear completely. in addition, struggles of working class during industrial revolution can compared struggles of serfs during middle ages. in parts of world today, forced labour still used.

galician slaughter 1846, jan lewicki (1795-1871); directed against manorial property (for example, manorial prisons) , rising against serfdom; galician, polish, peasants killed on 1000 noblemen , destroyed 500 manors in 1846.


russia

serfdom became dominant form of relation between russian peasants , nobility in 17th century. serfdom existed in central , southern areas of russian empire. never established in north, in urals, nor in siberia. historian david moon argues serfdom response military , economic factors in russia. socially stable , adaptable changing demographic , economic conditions; revolts uncommon. moon says not cause of russia s backwardness; instead, backwardness blocked alternative methods developed in western europe. moon identifies benefits serfs, such assurances of land , assistance after bad harvests. moon argues russia s defeat in crimean war catalyst leading abolition of serfdom.

finally, serfdom abolished decree issued tsar alexander ii in 1861. scholars have proposed multiple overlapping reasons account abolition, including fear of large-scale revolt serfs, financial needs of government, evolving cultural sensibilities, need of military soldiers, and, among marxists, unprofitability of serfdom.