Economic and social developments of Russia (5)
- Created by: MonsurAli
- Created on: 03-06-17 15:17
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- Economic and social developments of Russia by 1914
- Industrialisation
- Grew at 8%+ per annum from 1894-1913. Mostly done by Witte (1892-1903)
- Railway trackage doubled, coal output in South Russia from 183 million puds in 1890 to 671 in 1900.
- Foreign investment soared (with high interest rates), with France supplying a third of all foreign capital. It increased to 2000 million roubles by 1914.
- Witte introduced the gold standard to back the new rouble to get people to trade and use money.
- Transport costs of coal and iron fell making tem cheaper and govt gained revenue from the use of the railway. Trans-Siberian railway linked the east and west of Russia.
- This provided a huge psychological boost and by 1914 Russia was the 5th largest industrial power in the world and 4th largest producer of coal, pig iron and steel.
- Baku oil fields made Russia 2nd in oil production in the world. Heavy industry was prioritised over light.
- However issues did arise: huge strains on state budget, too dependent on foreign loans, war made them suffer massively, and foreign trade was actually not competitive enough (internationally)
- Agriculture
- Ownership of land of peasants increased to 50%. Redemption payments abolished in 1907. Mir system abolished. Peasant Land Bank created. Investment in Siberia to encourage movement. Peasants could apply to turn ***** farms into single farms.
- Russia was the worlds leading cereal exporter. There was a run of good harvest causing mass exports, and 3.5 million peasants moved to Siberia. Kulaks helped create efficiency.
- However Stolypin said he would need 20 years for his land reforms.Only 1.3 million of 5 million single farm applications were dealt with. 90% of peasants still using ***** farming.Land owners were still reluctant to give up land.
- Working and living conditions in the countryside
- Did not improve substantially: 90% still using ***** farming, inequality gap increasing, Kulaks took advantage of peasants and peasants were forced to leave their land,
- Only 3.5 million out of 97 million moved to Siberia.
- Living conditions did vary, poorer parts were later supporters of Bolshevik revolution.
- Unjust land allocations as previously state owned serfs gained more land after emancipation than privately owned.
- There was still widespread poverty; 60% illiteracy rate in Russia, lack of teachers and doctors. Communes existed because peasants were poor, not the other way round,
- Working/living conditions in urban areas
- There were 6 million factory workers by 1913. Urban population rose from 7 to 28 million due to influx of peasants looking for work.
- Education spread, normal factory hours reduced to 10 by 1914, but only 55% of children were in education.
- Living conditions were poor; living in barrack like buildings provided by factory owners; these were dangerously unsanitary and overcrowded.
- 1900, 40% of houses had no running water or sewage system. 30,000 dued from cholera in 1908-09. Rents remained high, causing workers to sleep on streets.
- Women earned less than half the average industrial wage and compromised a fifth of the workforce.
- Social divisions
- Nobility: some thrived due to no redistributive taxation. Others suffered to meet debts and failed to understand modernisation. The nobility were a key part of the autocracy and their power was not really eradicated.
- Middle class: they were in high demand due to rises in education improving literacy rates. There was an unfair land allocation and in truth, tradition was lost. The middle class did becom more professional and managed to exert their influence in the Zemstvas.
- Workers and peasantry: social adjustments taking place in the countryside and they became more politically active. In urban areas, workers became alienated from their families; letting them be targets for radicalisation. Not identifying this was a huge govt failure.
- Cultural changes
- Women advanced getting into factory work. Expenditure on education increased from 5 million to 82 million roubles. 1767 newspapers were being published. University students increased from 5000 to 69000.
- Russia wanted to export their modern culture: Anton Chekov 'Cherry orchid' was an emotional famous play.
- However only a third of educated 11-14 year olds were girls and only a quarter of uni students were peasants. The Tsar felt loved and wanted by 1914.
- Industrialisation
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