Abolition of serfdom

19 February 1861 year a manifesto was signed on the abolition of serfdom. 13 March, its text was published in the newspaper "Chernihiv Provincial Gazette".

In the middle of the XIX century. serfdom prevailed in the Russian Empire (slavery), which became a serious brake on the development of industry, trade and peasant entrepreneurship. The legal release of peasants became the starting point for solving pressing problems. This was preceded by extensive work in the provincial committees and editorial commissions. Most nobles understood the need to abolish serfdom, but at the same time tried to keep the land, and a certain power over the peasants. The progressive part of landowners - members of the commissions defended the need to release peasants with land plots, for which they had to pay a small ransom. These included Vasyl Tarnovsky Sr. and Hryhoriy Galahan, delegates from the government to the St. Petersburg Editorial Board..

We see the response to Tarnowski's activity in the letter of his son Vasyl: «…I will say more, that the people are waiting for you with great impatience, not only my, but even the surrounding villages. You are now enviable popularity not among the nobility, but among the people. Everybody says, that "Mr. Tarnowski will come and bring us freedom".

In Chernihiv Historical Museum named after VV. Tarnowski preserved several manuscripts of VV. Tarnowski Sr. on the peasant question. He was awarded silver and gold medals for his significant contribution to the preparation and implementation of the reform.

As a result of the reform, the bulk of the peasants of the province received an average of 3,45 tithes per audited soul. Redemption payments were 59,8 million. крб., that in 4,5 times the market value of land.

Chernihiv region was the only province in Ukraine with the predominance of the labor system, that is, the performance of serfdom for the lease of allotted land, which led to the economic backwardness of the province in its further development.