Political, economic and social grievances at the time of Nicholas II

What were the two groups the police system was divided into?

the Okhrana and regular police 

What’s the Okhrana?

Tsar’s secret police to deal with opposition to the royal government

What was the ratio of policemen to peasants?

one policeman for every 3850 peasants

What are cossacks?

independent warriors who fought on horseback

What percentage of the Russian population lived in the countryside?

94%

What percentage of children survived beyond the age of 5?

50%

What were the demands of peasants?

They wanted more land, greater economic freedom, and political rights

What did the 1901 famine lead to?

it led to intense peasants’ uprisings, where starving peasants burned manor houses and seized land in response to the chronic hunger

What were the demands of the middle class?

They wanted democracy, political rights and liberalisation of Russia, including freedom of speech, press and association.  

What did the 1897 census show about literacy rates?

that literacy among workers was 57.8%, twice the national average

What did a 1904 survey reveal about housing situation?

an average of 16 people per apartment with six people per room. 

What was the normal workday?

10- 12 hour workday was normal 

How many workers were part of the industrial class?

more than 4 million members in 1913

What were the industrial workers demand?

they wanted better working conditions, including the 8-hour working day, better pay, better living conditions and political rights.  

Was there free press?

no

How much of government expenditure went towards maintaining the army and navy?

45%

How much government expenditure went towards education?

4%

How many soldiers died in peacetime during the reign of Nicholas I?

over one million soldiers

How much of the population were peasants?

80%

What was the rapid increase in foreign investment under Witte’s reforms?

200 million in 1890 vs 900 million in 1900

What were the impressive advances in industrial output under Witte’s reforms?

400% between 1890 and 1910 (coal, iron and steel) 

What were the success of Witte’s reforms on the railway coverage expanded

Railway coverage expanded from 7000km in 1890 to 60,000km in 1905