In 1861, Czar [[Alexander II]] (1855-1881) quickly began tackling endemic corruption, and worked to transform Russia by freeing the 25 million Russian serfs, earning him the namesake “the Great Liberator”. This occurred only months before [[Abraham Lincoln]] was to earn the same title by announcing the [[Emancipation Proclamation]] ending slavery in the [[USA]]. | In 1861, Czar [[Alexander II]] (1855-1881) quickly began tackling endemic corruption, and worked to transform Russia by freeing the 25 million Russian serfs, earning him the namesake “the Great Liberator”. This occurred only months before [[Abraham Lincoln]] was to earn the same title by announcing the [[Emancipation Proclamation]] ending slavery in the [[USA]]. |