Economic Modernisation plus Agrarian economy

Question 1

What were the problems with Russia’s Agricultural sector?

Answer 1

. Backward farming methods e.g. Strip farming and equipment e.g. Wooden ploughs/ solcha’s held dominance in the Tsars time and because of this yearly agricultural yields were often poor and way behind other countries.
. The Mir held back proposed reforms as they were slavophiles and believed that nothing should change.
. Russia had little agricultural land and because of this land was split up unevenly between family’s and communal farming held dominance because of this.

Question 2

What success’s did Witte’s economic reforms have?

Answer 2

. Railways expanded - the vast expansion of the railways and projects such as the Trans Siberian Railway enabled migrants and resources to flow from east to west and therefore enabled the large expansion of industry.
. Foreign investment poured in as a result of Russia’s large levels of industrialisation, this investment encouraged further expansion of the industry sector of the economy.
. The annual growth of he Russian economy between 1894-1904 was 8.5% and Russia became the worlds 4th largest industrial power.

Question 3

What were the limitations of Witte’s economic reforms?

Answer 3

. Railways were still incomplete by 1914 and projects such as the Trans Siberian Railway had promised more than they had delivered.
. Russia became dependant on foreign loans for industrial expansion.
. Massive amounts of expenditure were still poured into the military. This money could have been put to better use elsewhere.

Question 4

What were Witte’s 3 main economic objectives?

Answer 4

. To promote Railway building
. To increase foreign investment and expertise.
. To focus on the expansion of heavy industry e.g. Oil, iron and coal.