Tsar Alexander II attempted reforms that were intended to modernise Russia as well as freeing all the peasants that formed the bulk of its population from Serfdom. Ending the outdated feudal institution of Serfdom had intended as well as inadvertent consequences.

In 1574 Queen Elizabeth I in England banned serfdom as being barbaric. Around 420 years later Paul Keating as prime minister started serfdom in Australia.