Before the country there was a series of complicated domestic and foreign policy issues (peasant, east, Polish and others); the finances were extremely upset failed the Crimean war, in which Russia found itself in complete international isolation.
The first important step was the conclusion of the Paris peace in march, 1856- on terms that the situation was not the worst (in England were strong sentiment to continue the war until the complete defeat and dismemberment of the Russian empire).
Alexander II
In December, 1858 was adopted a new program of the peasant reform: providing farmers the option to purchase the land plot and the creation of a peasant of public administration. For the consideration of the projects of the provincial committees and the development of the peasant reform were created in march 1859 Editorial committee. The draft, compiled by the Editorial committees at the end of 1859, was different from the proposed provincial committees of the increase in land plots and the reduction of duties. This caused discontent of the local nobility, and in 1860 in the project were reduced several plots of land and increased the trespass offering. This trend in the change of the project was preserved when it is considered in The committee on the peasant case at the end of 1860, and its discussion in the council of State in early 1861.
on February 19(march 3) in 1861 in saint Petersburg Alexander II signed the Manifesto on the abolition of serfdom and the Position of peasants, out of serfdom, consisting of 17 legislative acts.