Emancipation

In this compelling sequel, historian Peter Kolchin explores the pivotal transitions from unfree to free labor in the United States and Russia during the 1860s, comparing how former slaves and serfs navigated newfound autonomy amid ongoing conservative resistance. The book highlights the differences in post-emancipation outcomes, with the U.S. offering a path to citizenship for freedpeople, while Russian peasants remained subjects, and examines the struggles both regions faced in rewriting their social orders. Ultimately, Kolchin reveals that the scope for radical change was greater in America than in Russia, set against a backdrop of resurgence in conservative politics.