(early 1900s) Background of Russia

What was Russia like?

A large autocratic empire, lagging behind the western world in economy, industrialisation and agriculture.

Describe the type of government in Russia in the early 1900s.

• Tsars - emperors believed to have divine right to rule.

• Imperial Council- often corrupt nobles appointed by the Tsar

• Committee of Ministers- decisions approved by Tsar

• 117 provinces- run by nobles responsible for enforcing the Tsar’s laws

• Relied of Imperial Army, Orthodox Church and police to keep control

Describe the geography of Russia in the early 1900s.

• Immense size

• Detached areas due to difficulty communicating

• Lack of railways + useable roads

• Lots of land unsuitable for farming

Describe the industrial face of Russia in the early 1900s.

• Low level but growing

• Banks couldn’t support the investment needed for modernisation

• Extreme poverty meant little demand for goods

• Lack of workers due to indebted peasants

• Uneven distribution of industrialisation

• Lack of developed transport networks

Describe the conditions of peasants in Russia in the early 1900s.

• Most were subsistence farmers who were not modernised

• Emancipated in 1861 but debt slavery replaced serfdom, forcing peasants to buy back their land.

• Frequent famines and crop failures- food shortages + starvation

• Illiterate, poorly informed

• Mir controlled peasant farming- allocated strips of land to peasants

Describe the conditions of workers in Russia in the early 1900s.

• Shared filthy rooms in block style buildings

• Average working day ended up being 15-16 hours

Describe the role of the Church in Russia in the early 1900s.

• Taught people to love and obey the Tsar + his officials

• Very conservative and blocked change in Russia

Describe the conditions of the class system in Russia in the early 1900s.

• Aristocrats- 1% of pop, 25% of land

• Clergy- 0.5%

• Middle class of bankers, merchants - 0.5%

• Urbanites of shopkeepers, white collar worker- 11%

• Peasants- 80%