Nicholas II (HL): policies

Question 1

The ‘Witte System’

Answer 1

A neo-mercantilist policy based on attracting foreign investment by employing high protectionist tariffs whilst promoting exports.

Russia on the gold standard (1897)
State subsidation of railway + other key industries (coal, steel, oil)

Question 2

Policy consequences on peasants

Answer 2

To finance industrialization, Witte levied heavy taxes on the peasantry. His policies neglected agriculture and overwhelmed a burdened peasantry.

1891 tariff - massively reduced import of agricultural machinery (expenisive), further burden.

Question 3

Policy dependancy on foreign support

Answer 3

To finance industrialization Witte borrowed heavily from Germany and France = overly dependen.

No autarky = Russia isn’t stable inside, as it has no consumer market, reliant on foreign capital.

Question 4

Witte diplomatic skills

Answer 4

Negotiated a tariff war with Germany (1894), 10 year commerical treaty.

1906 - secured a massive loan from France to bail out the bankrupted regime after Russo-Jap defeat.

Question 5

The gold standard

Answer 5

Ruble stable, encouraged investment.
Improved Russia’s credit = recieved better loan terms.

Relied on protectionist policy: heavy taxing (peasants)

Question 6

T-S railway construction

Answer 6

Construct = higher demand for coal + iron -> more railways to expand mining -> meeting expansion = enlarging production capacity.

Gov: bought up private lines, consturcted lines desired by investors, offered finanical incentives.

400,000+ seasonal and permanent jobs.

Question 7

Coal production increase (link to railway)

Answer 7

1880 - 3,290 (1000 tonnes)
1910 - 25,430 (1000 tonnes)

Question 8

Social effects of Witte’s reforms (peasants and proletariat)

Answer 8

Peasants go to cities which become financial strongholds. (St. P. grew 10% in 10y)

Meant growing proletariat -> eventual demand for power share

Question 9

Social effects of Witte’s reforms (factories)

Answer 9

Between 1897 and 1908 600,00 new workers joined factories, but only 827 more were built (larger workspace, poorer conditions, but also unions spring up).

Question 10

Nicholas II beliefs

Answer 10

Intended to defend the principles of autocracy “as unswervingly” as his late father.

Influence of Pobedonostsev, believed he was chosen by God to rule and preserve the autocracy.

Question 11

Zemstvo delegates visit Nicholas

Answer 11

January 17 1895, asked if N II would consider a small degree of democratic reform, he dismissed them as ‘senseless dreams’.

Alienated the liberal reformers and contributed to growing dissatisfaction with the autocracy.

Question 12

Extent and impact of counter reform on peasants before 1905

Answer 12

1896+99, some redeption payments deferred and debt arrears cancelled.

1903, removed need of permit to leave commune.

Question 13

Extent and impact of counter reform on taxes before 1905

Answer 13

Private businesses tax, inheritence tax introduced raised tax on urban properties.

Supposed to shift weight away from lower classes, but Witte’s industrialsation contradicts this.

Question 14

Extent and impact of counter reform on factories before 1905

Answer 14

1897, law stated max 11½ hours’ work for day workers and 10 hours for night work (poorly enforced).

1900, factory inspectors was increased to 257 (for 18,000 factories) and had few powers of enforcement.

Question 15

Policy of ‘Russification’ – extending Russian control over Finland.

Answer 15

Feb 1899, Nicholas asserted Imperial Decrees overruled Finnish laws = tax resistance. 1904, Finnish nationalist Schauman assassinated Russian Governor Bobrikov.

Question 16

Policy of ‘Russification’ – extending Russian control over Armenia.

Answer 16

1903, government took control of Armenia’s national fund -> demonstrations + terrorist attacks (Armenian Revolutionary Federation). Leaders trialed in 1912, defence lawyer = Kerensky.

Question 17

Growth of oppostion - Social Democratic Party timeline

Answer 17

1898 - first congress, broken up by Okhrana. Pytor Struve made manifesto, stress proletariat in rev.

1900 - Iskra (‘The Spark’) , rev. newspaper (Lenin contributes).

1902 - ‘What is to be Done?’ Lenin, pamphlet, divert from trade unions to wider political struggle.

Jul 1903 - Bolshevik - Menshevik (Martov) spilt

Question 18

Growth of oppostion - Social Democratic Party ideology

Answer 18

Nationalisation of land + industry.
B: discipline, organisation, centralisation.
M: sympathetic followers.

Question 19

Growth of oppostion - Social Revolutionary Party ideology

Answer 19

Est. 1901
Peasant action, land redistribution, favoured small communes organised under collective ownership.

Chernov est. special combat detachment in Berlin (1901), capaign of terrorism + assassinations.