 Excepting the establishment of the <unk> as a center for Polish cultural study , the Sejm reflected the conservative attitudes of the body 's unelected members from the nobility and the landed gentry . From the late 1830s an influx of new members , such as Leon Sapieha , Władysław Badeni and Agenor <unk> made the body more progressive and representative . In the 1840s the Sejm saw much debate on the subject of the abolition of serfdom . The Estates last met in 1845 , when they voted , 116 to 10 , on the proposal to abolish serfdom ; however they lacked the power to implement it and had to wait for the Emperor 's decision . The Estates were disbanded following the Kraków Uprising of 1846 , a mostly peasant rebellion aimed , ironically , at many of the nobles who were supportive of the abolition of serfdom . In 1848 , during the Spring of Nations unrest , when the Emperor tried to convene the Estates , the members refused , demanding a more representative composition , and increased powers ; the Emperor turned down their demand . In 1861 thee Estates were succeeded by the Country Sejm ( Polish : sejm krajowy ) . 
