ECONOMIC CHANGE/MODERNISATION 1861-94

Question 1

Agriculture before emancipation

Answer 1

Mostly small scale, serf labour used, old fashioned

Serfs were so poor and illiterate that there were no internal markets to stimulate growth

Nobles had little incentive to become entrepreneurs, status acquired through serf ownership

Question 2

Agriculture after emancipation

Answer 2

Removed key barriers to economic development, allowed peasants to become industrial workers

Most peasants remained too poor to take advantage of the opportunity, agriculture stagnated between 1861-80

Average peasant received 4 hectored f land

High taxes and redemption payments kept yields low as farmers had no money to invest

Peasants were controlled by the mir, restricted ability to adapt

Question 3

Industry before emancipation

Answer 3

State run factories, equipment made using serf labour

Only privately funded industries were cotton mills around St Petersburg

No real middle class with the expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to begin new industries

Question 4

Industry after emancipation

Answer 4

VON REUTERN

Foreign experts encouraged, eg John Hughes helped set up textile mills, economic growth reached 6%

Established a State Bank in 1860 and Savings Bank in 1869, encouraged foreign investment

Taxation system was reformed, more indirect taxes introduced to generate government income, bad for peasants

1855-81 the railway network increased from 570 miles to 13,270 miles

Question 5

Bunge 1881-87

Answer 5

Abolished poll tax and redemption payments were lowered

Peasant Land Bank set up in 1883 to financially aid the peasants

Nobles Land Bank set up in 1885, lent money to invest or repay debts

Laws introduced restricting child labour and working hours for women and children were reduced

Question 6

Vyshengradski 1887-92

Answer 6

Protective tariffs increased to make foreign raw materials more expensive, boosted economy at home

Used foreign loans and investment for state led industrialisation

Social conditions were heavily ignored

Grain exports increased by 18%

Peasant poverty remained to be a problem

1891-92 massive famine in the Volga region, 350,000 deaths, government continued exporting grain and Vyshengradski was widely blamed