Activities of District Captains of Minsk Province in Solution of Social and Public Issues in Villages at the Beginning of the 20th Century (Based on Reports)

In the Russian Empire at the end of the 19th century local government reform was carried out. Due to the reform a new authority for the rural areas was introduced – the institution of district captains. One of the areas of their activity was solving the main problems of the peasantry. District captains were in charge of conducting audits of peasant self-government bodies, solved the land management issues, had judicial powers. Furthermore, they were to promote rural literacy and opening of new schools. The article examines the role of district captains in solving social and public issues of the rural population, shows their practical activities aimed at increasing the level of literacy and changing the peasants’ attitude to receiving education.