Economic Developments, 1894-1914

Question 1

Who initiated a transformation in industry?

Answer 1

Sergei Witte, the Finance Minister (1892-1903)

Question 2

What happened to the Railway?

Answer 2

1. Track doubled
2. State bought out small private companies
3. Huge expansion
4. Allowed exploitation of raw materials
5. Allowed transport of grain
6. Stimulus for coal and iron companies
7. Constructed the Trans-Siberian Railway

Question 3

What happened to Heavy Industry?

Answer 3

1. Developed large factories
2. Main areas - Moscow, Poland, Baltic coast
3. By 1914 - worlds 4th largest producer of coal, pig iron and steel
4. Oil production doubled
5. Expansion of Putilov Iron Works.
6. Introduced a new rouble - encourage foreign investment

Question 4

Why was change needed in agriculture?

Answer 4

Small scale farming. Redemption fees and heavily taxed. Not a lot of farm land. Lack of animal farming - deprived the land of manure. Traditional farming methods

Question 5

What was introduced in 1896?

Answer 5

A scheme that sponsored people to emigrate to Siberia for agriculture

Question 6

What were some of the reforms Stolypin introduced in 1906/07?

Answer 6

1. More land for peasants to buy
2. Peasants granted equal rights in administration
3. New peasants’ Land Bank - fund land ownership
4. Peasants can leave the commune
5. Redemption Payments abolished

Question 7

What were some of the reforms Stolypin introduced in 1910?

Answer 7

Claimed he needed 20years of peace for his reforms to work - war prevented this.

1. Legislation encouraged land transfers and development of larger farms
2. Grain production rose
3. Siberia specialised in dairy and cereal.

Question 8

What were the changes in agriculture by 1914?

Answer 8

1. Only 1.3mil out of 5mil applications had been dealt with
2. Only 10% had become private land
3. 90% still used traditional strips
4. Landowners reluctant to give up land
5. Fewer than 1% were Kulaks