an overview of Russia in 1914 as background for more intensive study of the period

Question 1

Tsarist State

Answer 1

Tsarist Russia had been dominated by autocracy, orthodoxy and nationalism during the
19th Century.

Question 2

Autocracy

Answer 2

government by one person without any liberal freedoms, such as a free
press or a legal opposition. The Tsar’s power was absolute, unlimited and unquestioned.
He was the head of state, head of the government and head of the church.

Question 3

Society under Tsar

Answer 3

Tsar – ruler

Nobility – nobles provided officers for the tsar’s considerable army and the administrators
for the enormous state bureaucracy.

Bureaucracy – run on military lines; difficult to get into but once in, endless opportunity
for corruption; red-tape; inefficient

Bourgeoisie – small, due to a lack of commercial and industrial activity and of intellectual
repression (equivalent to middle class)

Proletariat (working class) – small due to limited nature of industrialisation

Peasants – vast majority of population; backward, ignorant, superstitious

Question 4

Economy under Tsar

Answer 4

Medieval socio-economic structure

Communications poor, domestic travel rare

Agriculture main activity and exceptionally backward; subsistent in nature

Industrial development minimal; high tariffs
protected small textile industry; Ural mines

Foreign trade strictly limited – protectionism and deliberate government policy