The freedom of serfs: The term serf refers to an unfree peasant of the Russian Empire. During the reign of Emperor Alexander II of Russia, The Emancipation Reform of 1861 was passed. It constituted the first and most important of liberal reforms passed at that time. That reform resulted in the abolition of serfdom during the Russian Empire. By this Emancipation Manifesto which proclaimed the emancipation of the domestic and the serfs on private sectors, over 23 million people received their liberty. Thus, serfs were entitled to be free citizens, to marry without having to gain consent, to own property as well as business.