As I recall, there were three paths proposed in 1861 for the repeal of serfdom:
1. Full emancipation. All serfs immediately gain the land they live on and all of it's rights and are allowed to move to cities or work in their farms. The boyars would no longer be able to enserf the peasantry, only hire them.
2. No emancipation. The serfs gain no land, and remain serfs with the only added bonus of being able to move away - and even that was planned to be pretty terrible, you'd be supervised to only take the essentials needed from your home and then basically kicked out to the nearest village and your previously held land confiscated by the landowner.
3. Limited emancipation. The serfs gain their land, but it is still held by their suzerain and they remain serfs until they pay it out (not something most peasants could do, given that they're peasants and all). Of course, they can also just leave for the cities, but then all of their former land gets confiscated by the landowner. This was the OTL choice taken.
The problem with taking option 1 is that the conservative parts of aristocracy were highly against it.
Absolute absolute. I'm not exactly sure at how much resistance he'd see, though. Probably some. The aristocracy feared that a full-blown emancipation will create a proletariat that can cause an 1848-esque revolt in Russia.How absolute was the Tsardom at this time? Assuming that Alexander went ahead with option 1, what would he be looking at in terms of resistance?
Absolute absolute. I'm not exactly sure at how much resistance he'd see, though. Probably some. The aristocracy feared that a full-blown emancipation will create a proletariat that can cause an 1848-esque revolt in Russia.
There's always a chance.Is there any chance that Alexander decides to push it through?
How absolute was the Tsardom at this time? Assuming that Alexander went ahead with option 1, what would he be looking at in terms of resistance?
Absolute absolute. I'm not exactly sure at how much resistance he'd see, though. Probably some. The aristocracy feared that a full-blown emancipation will create a proletariat that can cause an 1848-esque revolt in Russia.
How absolute was the Tsardom at this time? Assuming that Alexander went ahead with option 1, what would he be looking at in terms of resistance?