2.4 Repression and Reforms 1906-1914

Question 1

What are some facts about Stolypin (his background, his aim, his role in politics)?

Answer 1

• from noble family with strong political/military background
• Prime Minister in 1906
• aimed to modernize Russia and curb opposition from SR’s
• wanted to garner support from unskilled farmers

Question 2

What were the agricultural reforms?

Answer 2

• encouraged peasants to leave communes and establish private farms (money incentive to move to Siberia and cultivate land)
• Peasant Land Bank provided loans for land purchases and abolishment of Redemption Payments (financial burden)

Question 3

Why did Stolypin want to modernize Russian agriculture?

Answer 3

He wanted to bring Russia agriculture to European standards.

Question 4

Why did Stolypin aim to invest in peasantry?

Answer 4

• by increasing peasant land ownership he would gain their loyalty to the Tsar
• reduce revolutionary actions
• believed they would be more committed to maintaining stability

Question 5

What were the effects of agricultural reform?

Answer 5

• Increased land ownership (up 30%) and therefore loyalty to the Tsar
• Higher agricultural productivity (output up 1/3) helping the economy
• Political impact - Kadets (liberal) grew and became more supportive of the Tsar

Question 6

What was happening during the Repression?

Answer 6

• use of military tribunals to repress revolutionary activity
• secret police (Okhrana) still targeted political opposition
• thousands executed/exiled to Siberia
• the hope was that the Agrarian reform would reduce labour in the countryside and increase urbanization
• it did and so did the output (up 50% in iron and steel production)
• trade unions were legalized (groups demanding better conditions)
• 1912: work inspections for safety and creation of insurance
• but people were still unsatisfied

Question 7

What led to the Lena Goldfields Massacre?

Answer 7

• establishment of a mining company at Lena River
• many wealthy and high placed investors (Witte, Tsar’s mother)
• not as much gold as expected - costs-cut and poor conditions for workers

Question 8

When was the Lena Goldfields massacre?

Answer 8

1912

Question 9

What happened during the Lena Goldfields massacre?

Answer 9

• workers protested against poor conditions, low wages, and necessary goods’ prices
• military fired on protestors, killing hundreds

Question 10

What did the Lena Goldfield massacre lead to?

Answer 10

• it revived revolutionary fervor, highlighting the regime’s brutality
• more than a 1000 strikes in St. Petersburg from sympathy
• company forced to close