Condition of Russia before the revolution

Question 1

What problems plagued Russia pre-1917

Answer 1

• Difficult to govern
• Tsar was an autocrat
• No opposition to the Tsar
• Noble and Middle class
• Peasants
• Church
• Economic Developments
• 1905 Revolution and its underlying causes/implications

Question 2

Difficulty to Govern

Answer 2

Russia took up 1/6th of the world

Had a population 125million, with over 20 different spoken languages

Question 3

Tsar was an Autocrat

Answer 3

Could make any laws and govern as he wished.

No parliament nor any political parties - they were banned

Nicholas took advice from a committee of minsiters who he chose from rich nobles

Question 4

No opposition to the tsar

Answer 4

Opposition parties had been banned

Question 5

Noble and middle class

Answer 5

Nobles formed 0.1% of the population but owned 25% of the land

Middle class (Bourgeoisie) began to emerge and they wanted a say

Question 6

Peasants

Answer 6

80% of the population were peasants, they had primitive farming methods and poor crops = famine and poor working conditions

Workers were employed for long hours and wages were low

Trade was banned, strikes banned

Question 7

Church

Answer 7

Russian orthodox, loyal supporters of royal family

Highly conservative

Question 8

Economic Developments

Answer 8

Slow pace of industrialisation compared with Europe

Infa-structure underdeveloped

Emancipation Decree 1861 - allowed peasants to buy land but too expensive

Question 9

1905 Revolution

Answer 9

Caused by social injustices. e.g. 80% population were in poverty

Rapid population expansion. 98-125 million

Question 10

Political reasons behind the 1905 revolution

Answer 10

Lack of national assemblies and opposition to autocracy

Political groups lacked organisation

Question 11

Military reasons behind the 1905 revolution

Answer 11

Russo-Japanese war. Massive losses - 25/30 warships lost.