Industrialisation And Social Change 1881-1904 12 Mark Questions Flashcards
Explain why Russia became the 4th largest industrial world economy by 1897
-New rouble
-Foreign investment
-Witte
The work of Witte involved introducing a new rouble which stimulated foreign investment
Explain why Witte tried to transform Russian economy between 1894 and 1904
-Failure of previous minister of finance
-Restore Russian prestige
-Create a suitable workforce
Failure of others renewed motivation to restore Russian prestige and create a suitable workforce
Explain why the Russian state promoted the growth of the railway system in the 1890s
-Workforce force focused on the wrong geographical areas
-Long term transport & communication issues
-To help trade
The long term problems meant railways were needed to help trade and relocate workforce
Explain why industrialisation did not benefit all Russians
-Working conditions
-Rural peasants did not benefit
-Political problems did not benefit the middle class/intellectuals
Several groups did not benefit
Explain why the peasantry benefitted little from economic reform in the 1890s
-The state neglected agriculture
-Increase in population
-Urban peasants suffered from poor conditions
The increase in population from the economic boost led to smaller farms and cramped towns, peasants still too poor to improve such conditions and therefore benefitted little from economic reform
Explain why the period of industrial growth led to social unrest between 1881 and 1904
-More people in towns for factories led to cramped conditions
-Economy focused on more than legislation, lack of direct work to improve lives of majority of population
-Lack of agricultural growth as it was neglected
Conditions were made worse by lack of focus on legislation which was exacerbated by rural hunger which led to unrest
Explain why Russia was in need of economic reform in 1881
-Reliance on inefficient agriculture
-Lack of industrialisation
-Reclaim status
In need of economic reform because their status was no longer of great power which was worsened by the inefficient agriculture and underdeveloped industrialisation
Explain why Populism failed in Russia in the 1870s
-Peasants were resistant to change
-Loyalty to tsar
-Membership
Peasants resistant and loyal, could not be persuaded by the members
Explain why the movement against the regime grew stronger between 1881 and 1904
-Economic failures
-Social discontent
-Lack of political reform
Industrialisation led to economic change, social discontent and people turned to appealing new ideas as they wanted change=strengthening the movement against the regime
Explain why the Social Democratic movement split in two
-Different membership
-Different aims for revolution
-Different decision making techniques
Membership differences meant different attitudes to decisions and revolution
Explain why the Bolshevik party was established in 1903
-Marxist influence
-Desire for revolution
-Split of Social Democratic Party
Desire for revolution was inspired by Marx and different interpretations of Marxism led to a split, creating the Bolshevik party
Explain why the moderate liberal opposition grew stronger after 1881
-Famine of 1891-2
-Zemstva
-Long term resentment
The long term resentment was exacerbated the Zemstva as such views could be voiced and the famine triggered intense opposition
Explain why the behaviour of Alexander II and Nicholas II increased resentment within the Russian population
-Alexander II became repressive
-Paranoia increased this repression
-Nicholas often seen as weak
Paranoia led to weaknesses and repression which stimulated resentment within the Russian population
Explain why there was so much unrest in Russia in 1903-4
-Lack of support for workers
-Rural unrest due to neglect
-Russification
Repression, including Russification, impact exacerbated by rural and urban neglect led to unrest
