Social Divisions: Nobility

Question 1

What happened to Russia society as a result of economic changes?

Answer 1

-became more complex
-but continued division between upper stratum of nobility + broad mass of peasantry

Question 2

Why did the nobility suffer?

Answer 2

-nobility suffered as whole due to emancipation

Question 3

Why did some nobility thrive despite the emancipation?

Answer 3

-some thrived in favourable arrangements for land distribution
-involvement in Ind enterprises + financial speculation
-others served in gov offices or military retained former influence

Question 4

What happens to nobility land?

Answer 4

-around 1/3 all nobles land transferred to townsmen or peasants 1861-1905

Question 5

What did some nobles struggle with?

Answer 5

-to meet debts
-failed understand modern money management + investment for the future
-need to adjust living standards accordingly

Question 6

How did Nicholas II treat the nobility?

Answer 6

-no redistributive taxation or attacks on landed wealth to diminish incomes or harm traditional ways of life

Question 7

Why did Nicholas II treat the nobility this way?

Answer 7

-encouraged noble influence
-keen see their power within local zemstva retained

Question 8

What did this lead to?

Answer 8

-nobility regularly appointed to provincial governorships
-each province or district of empire had own noble assembly

Question 9

What happened in May 1906 due to these appointments?

Answer 9

-first meeting of the ‘united nobility’
-showed nobles determined retain their property rights + traditional interests

Question 10

What did the formation of this organisation reflect?

Answer 10

-reflected strength + determination of class to retain previous wealth + status despite some necessary adjustments