Assessment of Russia in the mid 19th Century

Question 1

How was Russia’s population a weakness?

Answer 1

In 1812, only 4% of the population were urban, suggesting a heavy reliance on agriculture.

Question 1

How was Russia’s population a strength?

Answer 1

Very large population, 41million in 1812 and 166 million in 1913, good for armies.

Question 2

How was Russia’s social structure a strength?

Answer 2

Middle class urban population was only 4% in 1812, for a revolution to occur a prevelant middle class was often necesary, and Russia didn’t have this.

Question 3

How was Russia’s social structure a weakness?

Answer 3

Very small middle class, which meant that no industrial revolution could occur, left behind Europe in this regard.

Question 4

How was Russia’s farming and raw materials a strength?

Answer 4

They had lots of good farmland in the West of Russia, and lots of natural materials such as iron and coal.

Question 5

How was Russia disadvantaged when it came to trade?

Answer 5

To trade by sea, they would need to negotiate access out of the Black Sea through the Bosphorous, and the Baltic sea through the chokehold of Denmark and the North countries, since these narrow sea lanes were controlled by thier enemies. The pacific ocean was very far away, and Russia had not trains on which to transport goods to it.

Question 6

2 points

How was Russia’s geography a strength?

Answer 6

• Russia spanned from the black sea to the east coast of Asia, making it a difficult country to invade and hold.
• Extreme temperatures also make Russia very difficult to invade and hold, most armies head back in the winter, and it is unlikely they will have taken enough territory to keep a foothold by then.

Question 7

2 points

How was Russia’s geography a weakness?

Answer 7

• It had poor natural defenses so it placed a large military burden on its people for defence.
• Temperatures ranged from -40 to 20 degrees, so a lot of the coastline is frozen for a significant part of the year.

Question 8

How was Russia’s economy a strength?

Answer 8

Peter the Great (1682-1725) had boosted industry by establishing factories, giving tax exemptione etc. This led to factories being founded for state needs (e.g. shipbuilding, iron making lurxury market ect.)

Question 9

4 points

How was Russia’s economy a weakness?

Answer 9

• It was overwhelmingly agricultural, largely serf - based and inefficient.
• They had primitive communications, the first metal road was only in the 1830s, and railways and steamboats in the 1850s.
• Long winters encouraged peasant handicrafts and vital supplement to farming, so local, small-scale industries developmed which was harmfulf to major expansion.
• Poverty of the masses and serfdom discouraged enterprise.

Question 10

2 points

What notable cities did Russia have?

Answer 10

• Moscow, capitol of old Russia, very significant for tradition and history.
• St Petersburg, built by Peter the Great as a new European style city. Built on the Baltic sea, so acts as a window to Europe.