2. So far… So Russia
1. Russia – an introduction
2. The Crimean War
3. Alexander II – Reform
4. Opponents of Alex II and Alex III
5. Alexander III & Industrialisation
6. Russo-Japanese war 1905
7. Revolution of 1905
8. Nicholas II, Stolypin and Russia on the eve of war
9. World War 1
10. Revolutions of 1917
11. The Russian Civil War / Lenin
12. Rise of Stalin
13. Five Year Plans, Collectivisation and the Great Terror
14. World War Two
15. Last Years of Stalin
Question
To what extent did war
provide a catalyst for
change in Russia between
1853-1953?
3. Problems facing Alexander III
• Unexpectedly became
Tsar
• Challenges of governing
huge Russian Empire
• Alexander II’s reforms
had increased popular
expectations
• Pressures from advisers
– Westernisers &
Slavophils
• New political classes –
demanding more
political participation
4. Task
• Read Oxley p. 43-45
• Make notes on ‘undoing the reforms’
• Refer back to the reforms of Alexander II. How many
did Alexander III change?
• List the factors that caused these changes?
• Give any examples of positive reforms under Alex III
5. The 1891 famine
• Famine hit 17 out of Russia’s 39 provinces.
• An early winter followed by long, hot and dry summer ruined all the
crops.
Hutchinson describes this as ‘the defining event of the decade.’
• Government had heavily taxed consumer goods to raise revenue.
Peasants forced to sell more and more grain leaving them with no
reserves.
• Censors prevented newspapers from reporting on famine.
• Government postposed a ban on grain exports furthering the problem
– causing many to blame them.
• Eventually they appealed for voluntary assistance schemes and a
Special Committee on Famine Relief was set up.
• Nobility and intelligentsia (Tolstoy and Chekov) pulled together and
contributed to famine relief.
• 350,000 died from starvation or disease.
• Demonstrated that Russian society could pull together in time of crisis
– Zemstvo leaders, Land Captains, peasants, local gentry and national
government.
7. Industrialisation?
• Throughout the 19th century until 1914, Russia had been an
agriculturally based economy.
• Britain, France, USA and other Western countries had already
experienced an industrial revolution and had transformed into
military powers.
• Serfdom ending in 1861 had made modernisation more feasible
as a greater number of workers could move to the cities.
• Government intervention attempted to encourage industrial
growth –
– a state bank set up in 1860 to finance via credit and attract
foreign investment.
– Reform of taxation to increase govt. revenue
– Tariff protection of Russian industry
– Railway construction (Trans-Siberian Railway)
• Ministers of Finance, Ivan Vyshnegradsky and Sergei Witte
pushed for a more long-term, strategic approach to the
economy, with large-scale state intervention in industry.
• How successful were attempts to modernise Russia.
Complete a chart similar to the one below.
• Oxley, p.46-9.
• Study Source 11 on p.48. How useful is this source in
understanding the conditions of workers at the time?
Reforms introduced by
Witte
Impact of Witte’s reforms
9. Witte’s reforms
• Overseas loans and investments
• High domestic taxes interest rates to raise capital
• Limited import of foreign goods (to stop Russian
money going abroad)
• Value of rouble linked to value of gold to keep it
high – GOLD STANDARD
• Expansion of railway system, e.g. Trans-Siberian
Railway (opened 1903)
• Improving balance of trade (e.g. 1901-10, Russia
exporting 186m. roubles more than importing)
• Increasing industrial output, e.g. coal, iron, grain
10. POSITIVES
• Textiles and sugar enjoyed some prosperity
• Railways expanded at a colossal rate (400% 1868-78) but this was largely a
result of private enterprise.
• Heavy industry and consumer goods grew 5% per year.
• However, this was often punctuated by many periods of depression.
• Overall growth in the economy of over 8% per year in 1890s.
• 1906-1913 6% p/a.
PROBLEMS
• Between 1890-1905 – other economies were doing better than Russia.
• By 1913 industry only was 20% of national income. Only 18% lived in towns
and Russia was Europe’s largest debtor.
• Economy still heavily dependent on agriculture.
• The complex system of land ownership prevented agricultural innovation.
System was inflexible - the mir still owned the land and direct cultivation.
• Peasants were conservative and loyal to orthodox church. They would
sometimes move back and forth between urban areas and countryside.
• The effects of industrialisation can be seen in the cities. A strong, distinct
working class was developing. WHY IS THIS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM?
• They gained the right to strike in 1905 and form trade unions in 1906 though
had to endure poor living and working conditions.
11. Historiography
S1
The abolition of serfdom in 1861 in theory made industrial development more
feasible, since the population was less tied to the land. Also there were many ex-
serfs without any land who were looking for work. A potential industrial
workforce was available. The year 1861 can in many respects be taken as the
beginning of Russia’s modernisation.
Falkus, The Industrialisation of Modern Russia 1700-1914
S2
In three decades (by 1913) Russia had industrialised on a rapid scale than any
other country during that period. No explanation of Russians industrial growth
under the Soviet regime after 1917 would be complete without taking into
account the industrial base inherited from Tsarist days.
Falkus, The Industrialisation of Modern Russia 1700-1914
Read the opinions of Falkus
1. Look at S1. Why does Falkus believe Russia was beginning to modernise?
2. According to S2, to what extent did Russia modernise by 1914?
3. What information could we use to argue against S2?
12. Historiography
S1
The abolition of serfdom in 1861 in theory made industrial development
more feasible, since the population was less tied to the land. Also there were
many ex-serfs without any land who were looking for work. A potential
industrial workforce was available. The year 1861 can in many respects be taken
as the beginning of Russia’s modernisation.
Falkus, The Industrialisation of Modern Russia 1700-1914
S2
In three decades (by 1913) Russia had industrialised on a rapid scale than any
other country during that period. No explanation of Russians industrial growth
under the Soviet regime after 1917 would be complete without taking into
account the industrial base inherited from Tsarist days.
Falkus, The Industrialisation of Modern Russia 1700-1914
Read the opinions of Falkus
1. Look at S1. Why does Falkus believe Russia was beginning to modernise?
2. According to S2, to what extent did Russia modernise by 1914?
3. What information could we use to argue against S2?
13. Homework
• Research ‘Russification.’
• What does it mean?
• Why do you think Tsars would deem it
necessary?
Start to make notes on History Today articles.
