Russia in 1914- Unit 1

Question 1

What was the political status of Russia?

Answer 1

• Relatively politically stable.
• Fundamental laws= limited authority.
• Stolypin rigged elections, Duma mostly right wing.
• Radicals had limited support.

Question 2

What was the economic status of Russia?

Answer 2

• 1909-1914, economies gross national product grown average annual rent of 3.5%, but still backwards compared to rivals.
• Stolypin’s ‘wager on the strong’ resulted in peasants households becoming independent peasants farms, rising 47,000, 1907- 135,000, 1913, but falling back down to 100,000, 1914. Peasants left to work in urbanised areas. Only 10% land turned to peasants farm.
• Trans- Siberian railway system ultimately failed, incomplete at the ‘centre’.

Question 3

What was the social status of Russia?

Answer 3

• 1897-1914, population 125 million-166 million, increased pressure om supply of food.
• Urbanisation= rapid. But 80% still in countryside.
• 1914, 1000 towns but only 200 had piped water, 38 had sewage system.
• Disease spread, outbreak of cholera, St. Petersburg, 1910, 100,000 deaths.
• Lena Goldfields strike, 1912.