Chapter 8 Flashcards
Annual average economic growth rate under Nicholas II
8% per annum
Foreign investment increase under Nicholas II
280mil roubles in 1894, to 2,000mil roubles in 1914, with France supplying majority
How did Witte encourage foreign confidence in investment under Nicholas II
Introduced a new rouble backed by the value of gold in January 1897
What was the importance of developing the railway system under Nicholas II
Linked major cities with grain growing areas and Black Sea ports
Evidence to show great extent of railway transformation under Nicholas II
By 1913, Russia had the second largest railway trackage in the world at 62,000km (still 8x less than USA)
Example of extent of railway transformation under Nicholas II
Trans-Siberian Railway linked European Russia with Moscow and the Pacific Ocean, stretching 7,000km
Limitation to the railway network under Nicholas II
Despite being the world’s second largest with 62,000km, it was still 8x smaller than the USA’s network
Where did the majority of heavy industry develop under Nicholas II
Around St Petersburg and the Baltic Coast
Evidence for coal increase under Nicholas II
Donbas region supplied 87% of Russian coal by 1913
Evidence of oil increase under Nicholas II
Trebled from 153mil puds to 570mil puds in Baku
Evidence to show huge change in heavy industry under Nicholas II
By 1914, Russia was the fourth largest producer of coal, steel and pig-iron
Extent of economic self-sufficieny under Nicholas II
Russia was not only self-sufficient, but able to compete with the USA on the international market
Industrial workforce increase from 1887-1908
doubled
Limitation to the extent of transformation of industry under Nicholas II
Light industry still accounted for 40% of total industrial output in 1910
Key evidence to show that the pace of industrialisation under Nicholas II had been rapid
One of the reasons German generals urged for war in 1914, was that they feared delaying it any longer would allow Russia to out-industrialise the German economy
Evidence showing the main reason why the Russian economy couldn’t be transformed under Nicholas II was due to agriculture
Although the rural economy provided a livelihood for 80-90% of the population, it was largely sacrificed in favour of industrialisation until 1906
Evidence to show agriculturally, little had changed at the start of Nicholas II’s reign
Traditional practises continued to be perpetuated by the Mir, and the wooden solcha was widely used
Evidence that agriculturally, Russia was still weak before reforms from 1906
British grain output was 4x as great
Fundamental Stolypin reforms
- Abolished strip-farming
- Abolished redemption payments on 1st January 1907 (although 49 years were nearly up)
How significant were Stolypin’s reforms
- Short term - only increased hostility
- Long term - very promising - claimed 20years of peace required to take effect
Evidence that Stolypin’s reforms WERE succsessful
By 1909, Russia was the world’s leading cereal exporter
Evidence to show that Stolypin’s reforms WEREN’T successful
- By 1914, only around 10% had been transferred from comunal to private ownership, and 90% land was still in strips
- By 1914, fewer than 1% achieved kulak status
