Alexander II main idea was to abolish serfdom (Emancipations of the serfs) because Serfdom prevented people leaving the land. This prevented the development of an urban ‘working class’, In turn making industrialisation impossible. The Crimean war had highlighted the poor state of Russian industry + communications.
Serfs were unhappy and revolts and revolts were common (1859 revolts in 1861 alone.) This posed a possible threat to the survival of the monarchy.
Alexander II accepted that Serfdom was “an evil” and morally wrong.
Alexander wanted to create a system where he could keep the Nobility happy and keep control over all the people, he didn’t want to just free the serfs, there would have been a “landless mass” of people. So in 1861 the emancipation edict was created. All personal serfdom was abolished, and the peasants were to receive land from the landlords and pay them for it. The state advanced the money to the landlords and recovered it from the peasants in 49 annual sums known as redemption payments. Until redemption began, the law provided for a period of "temporary obligation," during which the peasants held the land but paid for it in money or in labour. That initial stage dragged on for nearly 20 years in some regions. In many areas the peasants had to pay more than the land was worth, while in other areas they were given small plots, and many chose to accept "beggarly allotments" : i.e., one fourth of the prescribed amount of land without any monetary obligations.
The peasants' landholdings were controlled by the mir, or village commune. The mir were the village council of elders. Technically the mir paid redemption dues, peasants paid the mir. The mir didn’t want the peasants to leave.
This was a major move away from autocracy, in principle it gave ‘power to the people’. Peasants were now “free”, they were able to marry, own property etc. Before although serfs worked the land they didn’t own it, now they did. The emancipation edict also made sure Nobility were kept happy. Although they lost some land and Serf labour, they did get compensation. Nobility were also able to set the level of compensation themselves. Many obviously over estimated the value.
The negative results were that Serfs had to pay for land they thought was ‘theirs’ anyway. Also the redemption dues were often far higher then peasants could afford to pay. Serfs were still controlled by the mir and still weren't completely free.
In order to replace the control of the Nobility the Tsar needed a new form of local government. The solution was the introduction of the Zemstvo. This “local council” had control of local issues such as primary education, public health, maintenance of roads, local building projects etc. In theory this was a major step away from autocracy and an acceptance of the principle that the people should have a say in government. In fact the Zemstvo simply legalised the control of the nobility. The “college electoral system” ensured that the nobility controlled the Zemstvo, they held 74% of the seats at provincial level.
Alexander II introduced a series of other ‘minor’ reforms. Legal proceedings were now in the open and a jury system was introduced. Different legal systems for different classes were now abolished and judges were made independent for government. He banned “loopholes” which allowed nobles to escape military service. Military service was cut from 25 years to 6 years and he abolished brutal punishments in the army and military service being a punishment for criminals.
I think that Alexander II did succeed in achieving his aims. Most people would agree that freeing the serfs was morally correct. He also managed to avoid civil war by keeping the nobility and serfs happy with his reforms. Even though serfs remained “tied to the land” until redemption dues were paid, it was still a step in the right direction.
