The process of freeing the peasants in the Baltic Governorates has been often seen as a failure, but it was not entirely so: it was the first signal inside the Russian Empire, that the old serfdom based agriculture arrangement was outdated, and the processes in the Baltics became the basis of latter changes in both the Empire and Estonia.
Ehkki talupoegade pärisorjusest vabastamise aktsiooni Balti kubermangudes on tihti hinnatud läbikukkumisena, pole see ilmselt päris korrektne, sest see oli esimeseks signaaliks Vene impeeriumis, et pärisorise põllumajanduskorraldusega enam edasi minna ei saa ning see pani aluse hilisemateks ümberkorraldusteks nii impeeriumis kui ka Eesti alal.