Influence of the Zemstvo Reform of 1864 on the Development of the History of the Russian Empire

Abstract

This article is devoted to one of the largest transformations in the era of the Great Reforms of Alexander II – the Zemstvo Reform of 1864. In this study, the authors analyzed the reasons that became prerequisites for the need to introduce Zemstvo reform, and also considered the contribution to the development of this reform of such statesmen as the director of the Economic Department of Internal Affairs Milyutin N.A., as well as the Minister of Internal Affairs Valuev P.A. The article discusses the concept of zemstvo, as well as its key principles: omniscience and electability. The authors of the article studied in detail the structure of zemstvo assemblies, the procedure for appointing their members, the procedure for forming zemstvo assemblies, as well as the competence of zemstvos and their key functions. In addition, the authors analyzed the order of formation and sources of the zemstvo budget. The authors paid special attention to the issues of the significance of the Zemstvo Reform and its impact on the development of the Russian Empire, as well as opinions and disputes expressed in periodicals and confidential notes regarding the local self-government bodies themselves and their competence. The positive aspects of the Zemstvo reform were analyzed, as well as the criticism of well-known statesmen, including the Minister of Finance of the Russian Empire S.Yu. Witte towards reform. The authors of the article provide statistical data confirming the success of the Zemstvo reform and its successful impact on the development of the Russian Empire. At the same time, the authors discuss the significant impact of the Zemstvo reform on the arrival of revolutionary upheavals at the beginning of the XX century.