R: Grievances under Nicholas II Flashcards
Describe split of social structure (peasant, upper, ruling)
82%, 12%, 0.5%
Famine which shifted views
1891 famine - 350 000 peasant deaths
Shift from the “dark masses” to discontent
Discontent in the countryside
- Illiterate and conservative
- Preoccupied with “land hunger”
- Industrialisation seemed irrelevant (discontent towards govt. policy)
– As the population is heavily taxed to industrialise, there is no development of agriculture (which was inefficient, outdated)
What were the regulations on working and unionism?
There were few laws in place in protection of workers, and ban on unionism and striking
How long were typical factory shifts?
10-12 hours
What survey revealed how many men shared a room?
1904, 6 men shared one room
Sergei Witte was Prime Minister
1893-1903
Sergei Witte’s reforms
- Placing currency on the gold standard
- Protective tariffs- tax on foreign goods
- Attracting foreign interest
- Pressure on agrarian- high tax, selling surplus grain
How much of government spending was on foreign loan interest c.20th century?
20%
1890-1910: What industrial increase?
400% of, oil, coal, steel production
Benefit of the Gold Standard
- prevent inflation
- attract foreign interest
Benefit of attracting foreign interest
- able to industrialise
- strengthen foreign relations: France would become Russia’s strongest ally
- 1890: 200 million roubles to 1900: 900 million roubles
- con: dependency on other nations (“unpatriotic”), market fluctutations
By 1910, how many cities had 100,000 residents?
12
Literacy impact
75% growth of literacy 1905 - 1914
Pro and con of Trans Siberian railway
+ Improve east-west migration
+ Military transport
+ Trade
- Remained unfinished till 1916
- Very unreliable, and the only line.
