Russia 1914

Question 1

What was life like at the start of 1914?

Answer 1

• Much of land inhospitable and poor farming
• 80% pop’n peasants => emancipated in 1861
• Tsar – autocrat (supported by gov’t dep’ts and ministers)
• Effect of Russification important on people of different nationalities
• Okhrana – secret police – suppressed opposition – supporter of Tsar (Secret Police)
• Army/ Cossacks – strong supporter of Tsar => break up strikes
• Russian Orthodox Church – strong supporter of the autocracy/ Head of ROC appointed by Tsar