Question

Explain how the freeing of russia's serfs in 1861 was an example of both liberal and conservative thought.

Answer 1

The freeing of serfs in Russia was an expression of liberalism because it advocated individuals having personal freedom.  As Alexander said to the nobles, "The existing condition of owning souls cannot remain unchanged."

However, what was done in freeing the serfs expressed conservatism because the arrangement ultimately favored the nobles, leaving half of the lands in their hands and requiring payment from the serfs to the nobles for any lands transferred to them.

Note:  The Civil War in the USA began in the same year that the emancipation of serfs was proclaimed in Russia.  Technically, serfdom in Russia was not the same as slavery in the United States.  Landowners did not own the serfs as property, but because they were bound to the land as workers for the landowner who owned the land, their resulting situation was similar.  And because they were given legal freedom but had to pay for any land they would acquire from the nobles, the cost of their freedom was high.