Role Of Russia In 1894

Russia in 1894

Politically backward
Repression – the okhrana
Extremism – denial of free speech led to extremism
Most of Russia’s population were peasants – over 80%
Decline in agriculture
Large army = cost a lot more money

The early reign of Nicholas II, 1894-1905

Came to throne in 1894
Russification – Russian was declared to be the official first language; all legal proceedings such as trials had to be conducted in Russian. Restricted the influence of the non-Russian national minorities within the empire
Anti-Semitism – greatest victims of Russification were Jews. Many measures were introduced, heavy social, political and economic restrictions on the Jewish population.
Response to Nicholas II’s policies – did not lessen opposition
Minister of finance, set himself the task of modernising the Russian economy.
State Capitalism – Witte believed that modernisation could only be achieved through state capitalism (the direction and control of the economy by the government, using its central power and authority). The Russian currency was put on the Gold Standard (the system in which the rouble, had fixed gold content, giving it strength when exchanged with other currencies), Witte hoped this would create financial stability and encourage international investment in Russia.
The importance of railways – constructed between1891 and 1902. The Trans-Siberian Railway, stretched for 3750 miles from Moscow to Vladivostok, intended to connect the remoter regions of the central and eastern empire with the industrial west and encourage the migration of workers. However, sections were still incomplete in 1914 and did not greatly improve east-west migration. Proved more impressive as a symbol of Russian enterprise than as a project of real economic worth. Witte hoped that the major improvements in transport would boost exports and foreign trade, his hopes were largely
They all believed that Russia could not progress unless the tsarist system was destroyed through revolution.
The populists – regarded the future of Russia as being in the hands of peasants. The peasants must take the lead in transforming Russia, by firstly overthrowing the tsarist system. Some populists turned to terrorism as the only way of achieving their aims.
The Social Revolutionaries – 2 groups – Left Social Revolutionaries (wanted to continue the policy of terrorism inherited from ‘the people’s will) and Right Social Revolutionaries (the more moderate members. Believed in revolution as the ultimate goal, but were prepared to work with other parties for an immediate improvement in the conditions of the workers and peasants)
Social Democrats – aim to achieve revolution in Russia by following the ideas of Karl Marx, Marx claimed that the critical determinant of human behaviour was Class struggle (a continuing conflict at every stage of history between those who possessed economic and political power and those who did not), and a process that operated throughout history. He referred to this as the dialectic (the violent struggle which takes place in nature and in human society between