Economy and society: Alexander III Flashcards
What 3 did Bunge do as finance minster?
- He was appointed in 1882 and abolished the poll tax. 2. He created the peasant land bank in 1883. 3. He abolished the salt tax
Why was Bunge dismissed in 1887?
Alexander blamed his more liberal policies for the fall in the value of the rouble and replaced him with the more hardline vyshnegradsky.
Give three of vyshnegradsky’s policies
- He put taxes on consumer goods with the 1891 Dmitri Mendeleev tariff. 2. He made peasants export grain even when there were shortages at home. 3. He effectively utilized income from taxes and railways.
Who was Sergei Witte?
Made finance minster in 1893, he was the first finance minster to show total commitment to industrialization, under him, Russia underwent the great spurt.
Give four underlying principles of witte’s policies
- Taking out foreign loans and raising taxes. 2. Encouraging foreign experts to come to Russia. 3. Investment in railways and heavy industries. 4. State sponsored industrialization.
Why were there so many famines and food shortages?
- An over reliance on grain. 2. The restrictive practices of the mir. 3. Severe weather. 4. Government policies.
What happened in 1891?
There was a famine in Russia, it led to 350,000 deaths and caused the spread of cholera and typhus.
What were the causes of the great famine?
- Vyshnegradsky’s policy of raising taxes on consumer goods so peasants had to sell any surplus grain in order to afford to live. 2. Poor farming techniques and a lack of machinery. 3. Adverse weather conditions.
What was the outcome of the great famine?
Alexander set up the special committee for famine relief, but this came rather too late and many blamed the autocracy for the famine. Vyshnegradsky was dismissed and the ministry for agriculture was set up. However, alexander blamed the ‘lazy’ peasants for the famine.
What did he do to universities?
He reduced their autonomy, and in 1887, tuition fees were raised to limit social mobility.
How much did the economy grow during this period?
Around 5% per year.
How did Alexander change secondary schools?
He banned lower class children from attending. He changed the curriculum back to a more traditional one focussed on orthodoxy and obedience.
When were factory inspections introduced?
1882, it was also ruled that children under 12 could not be employed. However, these measures were largely ineffective as the inspectors had limited power and employers could continue to do virtually whatever they wanted.
What was the role of the Orthodox Church?
It was under state control and acted as a form of social control, with high ranking clergy putting their full support behind the autocracy. Churches benefited from the support of the tsar and in return they preached obedience.
What bill on religion did Alexander III pass in 1883?
It gave ‘old believers’ the right to meet in their houses of prayer, but outlawed any public promotion of their beliefs. Anyone who tried to convert a member of the Orthodox Church could find themselves arrested.
