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In 1861 Alexander issued his Emancipation
Manifesto that proposed 17 legislative acts that would free the serfs in
Russia. Alexander announced that personal serfdom would be abolished and all
peasants would be able to buy land from their landlords. The State would
advance the money to the landlords and would recover it from the peasants in
49 annual sums known as redemption payments.
Alexander also introduced other reforms and in 1864 he allowed each district
to set up a Zemstvo. These were local councils with powers to provide roads,
schools and medical services. However, the right to elect members was
restricted to the wealthy. |