Social divisions: nobles, landowners and the position of the peasantry

Question 1

Who were the landed elite?

Answer 1

A small but diverse group, mostly of noble status.

Question 2

Why did landed elite see thier personal landholdings decline considerably?(2)

Answer 2

• some sold out to pay off debts

- others abandoned farming in favour of more rewarding professional activities

Question 3

By 1882 what were the landed elite doing? (2)

Answer 3

• more than 700 nobles owned their own businesses in Moscow

- nearly 2500 were employed in commerce, transport or industry

Question 4

What was the position of the landed elite?

Answer 4

Most former self-owners retained as much of their previous wealth and status, and society remained highly stratified

Question 5

What caused the middle-class to grow? (2)

Answer 5

• urband and industrial expansion

- increase in educational opportunities

Question 6

What type of professions were in great demand and what did their numbers add to in the 1897 census? (2)

Answer 6

• bankers, doctors teachers and administrators

- 1/2 million

Question 7

What helped provide opportunities for those who were enterprising? (2)

Answer 7

• Governmentcontracts to build railways

- state loans to set up factories

Question 8

At the lower end of the scale, what opportunities were there more of? (2)

Answer 8

• take up management positions

- set up as workshop owners and traders

Question 9

What percentage of the population were urban workers?

Answer 9

2%

Question 10

What was still relatively common for peasants to do?

Answer 10

-to move to towns to work temporarily, while returning to their villages to help out at peak times, such as harvest

Question 11

What did some peasants leave the countryside for? (2)

Answer 11

• to join a migrant group building railways

- to become an urban worker

Question 12

By 1864 how many of the inhabitants of St Petersburg were peasants by birth?

Answer 12

1/3

Question 13

In 1882-90 what reforms came out? (4)

Answer 13

• regulation of child labour
• a reduction in working hours (particularly women at night)
• a reduction in excessive fines and payment in kind
• the appointment of inspectors to check up on working and living conditions

Question 14

How many strikes per year were there between 1886 and 1894?

Answer 14

33 strikes

Question 15

What did Kulaks do?

Answer 15

They bought up land | sometimes with the loans from Land Banks | they employed labours and sometimes acted as ‘pawn brokers’ to the less fortunate |

Question 16

What was the life expectancy for peasants? (2)

Answer 16

• 27 years for men

- 29 years for women