The socio-economic situation of the state peasants of Kursk Province in the first half of the 19th century

Relevance of this study is determined by the scientific significance of the problem, which, unfortunately, has not yet been addressed by historians. State peasants made up about half of the province's population and played an important role in its economy, but a comprehensive study of their situation has yet to be conducted, which limits our understanding of social life in the region. The purpose – comprehensive study of the situation of the province's state peasants in the first half of the 19th century, with a focus on the 1830s and 1850s, when P.D. Kiselev's reform was implemented. Objectives: to study farms, the degree of satisfaction of basic needs, payments, and the social conditions of peasants. Methodology. The study is based on the principles of objectivity and historicism, which involve the objective knowledge of the past and the study of phenomena in their development and connection with specific conditions. The use of general scientific, special historical, statistical, and other methods has increased the information content of the sources, thereby enhancing the validity of specific and conceptual conclusions. Results. Peasants' land plots provided for their food needs and produced marketable products. Livestock farming was underdeveloped, which was one of the reasons for the peasants' insufficient consumption of protein-rich food. The social sphere was in its infancy. However, the anthropometric data of the recruits exceeded the national average. Conclusin. The basic needs of the peasants, by the standards of the 19th century. they were mostly satisfied, excluding impoverished families. In general, the situation of the state peasants of the province corresponded to the level of socio-economic development of Russia in the first half of the 19th century. Therefore, it would be wrong to overly dramatize it.