chapter six Flashcards
middle class in russia under alexander ii
absent
how was industrialisation stimulated under alexander ii and why
driven by the state; to try and match the economic growth of western europe
reforms made to boost industrialisation and output under minister of finance from 1862-1878
treasury reformed and new arrangements for collecting tax
tax-farming was abolished and indirect taxes increased usage
establishment of a state bank 1860
government subsidies provided to build railways
foreign investment into russia was encouraged
attempted to steal americas cotton industry market during the civil war (1861-65)
who was minister of finance from 1862-1878
mikhail von reutern
dominant industry in russia under alexander ii
textiles (despite attempts at more industrial industries)
what was caspian sea used for 1871
oil extraction
where did a third of all government expenditure go towards
debt
issues with the rouble
very unpredictable; made russian trade or investment harder
how much tax revenue came from indirect taxation
66%
main new industries in 1890
coal
crude oil
pig iron
how much did grain exports increase 1881-89
18%
1892 budget was in…
surplus
when was the shift that improved the economy
tarriffs rising in 1880s under new minister of finance (1887-92)
issues with the economic improvement
did not include the peasants ; who paid taxes and whose grain was requisitioned by the state
finance minister prioritised exporting food over feeding the people of russia
when was the great famine
1891-92
foreign investments in 1880 versus 1895 (in millions of rouble)
98 million versus 280 million
where were most of the investments
mining
metal trades
oil
banking
what ranking was russia in largest industrial economies of 1897
fourth
land for peasants following the emmancipation
decreased as the landlords got to keep lots of their land as compensation
why were peasants disconent 1880s-1890s
less land
low taxes
grain taken by state
redemption payments
when did the emergence of the middle and urban working class start
around 1895
landed elite
many abandoned farming or the countryside following the emancipation
one in five university professors was from the landed elite class
more than 700 nobles owned a business in moscow
lots were in the earlier zemstvas and other provisional governorships
whilst no longer owning the peasantry; still kept majority of wealth and status
middle class
began due to urban and industrial expansion and increase in educational opportunities
usually made up of bankers, doctors, teachers
numbers had not reach half a million (500,000) by 1897 census
government contracts and state loans for more railways and factories led to an increase in opportunity for entrepreneurship
who owned the factories before 1890s versus after
before 1890; most private factories were in the hands of the traditional nobility
during 1890s; non-nobles were increasingly becoming factory owners and there was an increase in harsh discipline and disregard for workers wellbeing
urban working class
came with the expansion in russian industry
no more than two percent of the population by the 1890s
lots of peasants would come work in the cities and towns when it wasnt harvest season; but few actually migrated
lived in grim and inhumane conditions
how many citizens of st petersburg were peasants from birth by 1864
one in three (with the proportion rising)
reforms for urban workers 1882-1890
regulation of child labour
reduction in working hours
reduction in excessive fines and payment in kind
appointment of an inspector to assess working and living conditions
payment in kind
payment in goods or services such as accommodation rather than money wages
effect of the regulations
did very little in improving the lives of the urban working class
how many strikes (which were illegal) happened between 1886-1894 per year
33
the peasantry
peasantry were divided between kulaks and the poorest peasants
living standards varied between the land
conditons in areas of previously state serfs > conditions of the area in a previously private serfs; due to state serfs being provided more land
large amount of peasants were deamed unfit for military service and mortality rates were high
economic growth failed to provide for the peasants
proportion of former serfs unable to feed their household without debt in a russian region 1880s
two out of every three
average life expectancy in peasants russia (compared to englands)
male; 27
female; 29
(englands was 45)
percentage of population subscribed to the orthodox church
70%
churchs stance of the tsar
had divine right to rule and was emobdiment of god on earth
who judged social crimes and their punishment and controlled censorship
the church
how did alexander iii promote orthodoxy
russifaction;
became illegal to convert from orthodoxy to a different faith or to publish criticisms of it
and forced conversions to autocracy were done
how many forced conversions were done on different religions under alexander iii
muslims; 8,500
pagans; 50,000
catholics and lutherans; 40,000
