The Extent and Reasons For Social Change. Flashcards
When was the first official census taken in Russia?
1897.
Between what years was there the biggest spurt in population in Russia?
Between 1870 and 1914.
What were the reasons for the increased population between 1870 to 1914?
- Increased birth rates - stimulated by industrialisation eg Witte’s great spurt and industrialisation.
- Industrialisation gave greater prospects for employment and led and therefore incentivised people to marry earlier.
- Death rates increased as a result of wars and Stalin’s purges.
What social change did the Emancipation Edict in 1861 bring?
- Gave peasants freedom to marry.
- Civil marriage for peasants was not officially granted until the October 1917 revolution.
What was the impact of civil marriage being legalised after 1917?
- led to more families splitting up as divorce became an option.
- Stalin tried to counter this by providing financial incentives to strengthen the family - ‘Distinction to Mother Heroines’ 1944 - awarded to mother with 10+ children.
When was abortion legalised in Russia?
- 1926 - however it led to a fall in birth rates which led to revision of the law where abortion was only allowed if the mothers life was at risk.
- All restrictions were lifted in 1955.
Up until communism was introduced, what percentage of the Russian people were farmers?
- 80%.
- high reliance on agriculture led to Russian society being backwards.
What was the structure of Russian society like between 1855 to 1917?
- Tsar and the nobility ( made up 2% of the population).
- The clergy and middle class.
- The lower class (80% of the population.)
How many people were considered middle class in Russia by 1914?
- 2 million - they presented a threat to the monopoly of power held by the nobility.
How did peasants purchasing land affect the nobility?
Land held by the nobility fell by 90%.
What was the social structure like in Russia under communism?
- by definition it was supposed to be a classless society.
- there was a hierarchical bureaucracy.
- By the 1930’s 1.5million workers were in managerial positions.
Examples of a hierarchical bureaucracy under the communists?
- Some workers were considered technical experts who were often given privileges.
- 1930s, 1.5 million workers in managerial positions.
What was education in elementary schools in Russia like before 1864?
- Provisions for elementary schools came from wealthy individuals or the church.
- Parents paid fees for children to attend.
- Attendance was erratic and achievement poor.
What was literacy levels like amongst army recruits in mid-1860s?
- Only 7% were literate.
- The recruits were mainly peasants and this figure is representative for the whole population.
What reforms did Alex II make to elementary education?
- Placed responsibility for the administration of elementary schools with school boards that were run by the Zemstva.
- This led to provisions in elementary schools improving.
What impact did Dmitri Tolstoy ( minister for education) have on elementary education in 1870?
- Took away some of the authority of the Zemstva.
- By 1877 the ministry had nearly total control over what the Zemstva could do.
- Central gov had authority over the appointment of teachers, length of the school day and the quality of inspections.
What reforms to elementary education were made under Nich II?
- 1st Duma introduced a plan for ‘universal primary education.’
- This plan was halted by war and revolutions.
By 1914 what percentage of primary aged children attended school?
- 51%.
- This was behind western allies - In France primary education had been compulsory and fully funded by the state since the 1880s.
How did Stalin approach primary education?
- Carried out the plan set up by the first Duma and made primary school compulsory for all children up to the age of 12.
- Increased school attendance by 10 million from 1929.
- The stalinist system of elementary education stayed until the end of communism.
What changes to the curriculum was made to elementary schools under the communists?
- Subjects added linked to revolution.
- Stopped teaching religious scriptures.
What was the ‘war on literacy’?
- Occurred under the communists.
- It was normal for both children and adults to attend elementary schools with the aim of creating a more educated and capable workforce.
What type of secondary schools were used by the tsars?
- gymnasia - essentially grammar schools.
What changes did Alex II make to secondary schools?
-Introduced a ‘new code’ which allowed for traditional gymnasia provisions to run along side real gymnasia.
- the traditional gymnasia taught Russian plus the classics.
- the real gymnasia taught modern languages and sciences which were considered by some to engender a ‘spirit of revolution.’
What was the impact of Alex II reforms to secondary schools?
Secondary school attendance doubled between 1855-1865.
Middle class benefited from the increase in places at secondary schools.
