Russia before 1917

Question 1

what was Russia like before 1917

Answer 1

Russia was ruled autocratically by the tsar

Question 2

economic state

Answer 2

• to pay for the war, the government increases taxed and raised huge loans
• due to damage done to industrial and grain exports by the war, inflation occurred, money worthless by 1917
• prices rose steeper than wages
• peasants began to hoard food rather than sell it
• Railway system virtually collapsed due to fuel shortages
• naval blockades of Baltic and black sea ports brought Russian trade to a virtual standstill

Question 3

opposition to tsarism - liberals

Answer 3

• a loose collection of groups that favoured reform and a constitutional monarchy
• included the constitutional Democrats (known as the Kadets), the Octoberists, and the Progressives

Question 4

opposition to tsarism - social revolutionary party

Answer 4

• the party was founded in 1901
• Chiefly represented peasant interests, including land reform
• suffered from internal divisions, some extreme SRs believed in a political assassination, but the moderate wing gained influence after 1905.

Question 5

opposition to tsarism - social democrats

Answer 5

• Represented the proletariat, industrial working class

- it split into Mensheviks and Bolsheviks following arguments about how to apply Marxism to Russia’s situation