Economic And Social Developments Flashcards
What was industrialisation driven by ?
The state to try to match the economic development of Western Europe
When did Reutern produce a series of reforms ?
1862-78
What reforms did Reutern produce ?
- treasury and taxation were reformed; tax farming abolished
- a state bank was set up in 1860
- Import duties were reduced from 1863 to promote trade
- Government subsidies were offered to railway entrepreneurs
What were the strengths of the Reuterns reforms
- reforms encouraged investment and enterprise
- foreign technical expertise
- railway network expanded markedly
- new developments took place including coal and oil extraction
- annual average growth rate of 6%
Limitations of Returns reforms
- Russias economy remained comparatively weak
- A third of all government expenditure went on the repayment of debts
- Russian currency remained unstable
- the peasantry was still poor and the domestic market small
When was Vyshnegradsky finance minster ?
1887-92
In order for Vyshnegradsky to raise capital , reduce the budget deficit and boost home production what did he do ?
- introduced a high tariff of 30% of the value of imported raw materials
- negotiated loans and increased indirect taxes
- mounted a drive to swell grain exports
Between 1881-91 how much did grain exports increase by ?
18%
What was the russian economy like by 1892?
Russian budget was in surplus but the peasantry suffered badly they had to pay taxes and give grain to the state, many where left with no reserves stores for the winter
What happened in 1891-92
Bad harvests bought a widespread if famine and thousands died
When was Witte finance minister
1892-1903
What did Witte implement
- maintained protective tariffs, heavy taxation and forced exports
- Sought further loans and presided over a huge increase in foreign investment
What was Russias economy like by 1897 ?
They had become the worlds forth largest industrial economy, exports and foreign trade increased although Russia still exported mainly grain rather than industrial goods and the railway network was vastly expanded
What was grain production levels following emancipation?
They remained low compared to western countries
What did the government establish in 1883 and 1885 ?
Peasant land banks
Noble land banks
What did the famine on 1891-92 show ?
Peasants had too little land to prosper
Define the landed elite during industrialisation
- small bit diverse group mostly nobles
- personal landholdings had declined since emancipation
- state service
- Zemstva or the provincial governors
- often retained much of their previous wealth and status
Define the middle class during industrialisation
- growing class, resulting from urban expansion and education
- included bankers, doctors, teachers
- Lower middle class could become managers or workshop owners and traders
Define the urban working class during industrialisation
- around 2% of the population by the 1890s
- Some peasants worked in towns temporarily, returning to the villages at peak farming times
- growing class by 1864 one in three of the inhabitants of St Petersburg were peasants by birth
- suffered poor living and working conditions
Define the peasantry during industrialisation
richer peasants
- did well out of emancipation
- bough up land and employed labour
Poor peasants
- suffered more after emancipation
- became landless labourers often in debt
- generally poor living conditions
