The Condition of Russia from 1905 to 1917
PRE-1905
THE CLASS SYSTEM
Following the 1861 Emancipation of the Serfs, many peasants received less land than they
had previously farmed and many often perceived this land as God's (or free). Therefore, they felt
that it was unjust when they had to buy this land back from the Tsar's government (they had paid off
the land owners). This created a land problem that plagued all future governments and eventually
aided the downfall of the Romanov dynasty.
Class Proportion of
Population in 1897
Ruling Class (Tsar, court and government) 0.5%
Upper Class (nobility, higher clergy, army officers) 12%
Business Class (factory owners, merchants, bankers) 1.5%
Working Class 4%
Peasants 82%
INDUSTRIALISATION
The large numbers of peasants recorded in the 1897 census demonstrated just how under-
industrialised Russia was. Indeed, modernisation had only largely begun in the 1890s and this
burdened Russia with heavy foreign debts. Before the 1890s, Russian industry was largely defence
based. However, late attempts at modernisation left Russia's military technologically behind other
countries within Europe. The late industrialisation did have one advantage though - Russia was able
to import the latest technology without having to develop it itself.
THE ECONOMY
There was little private capital in Russia and as such, the state had to foot the bill for much
of the industrialisation. Witte (The Minister of Finance from 1893 to 1903) negotiated large loans
from foreign banks mainly Britain, France and Belgium. The Economy also boomed, with an annual
export surplus of over 186 million roubles between 1901 and 1910. However, Russia was still hit by a
recession in the early 1900s.
, The Condition of Russia from 1905 to 1917
POLITICAL IDEAS
POPULISTS
Emerged in the 1870s
Believed that the peasantry should rule as they made up over 80% of the population
o From Russian Narodniks (Narod meaning 'people)
o However, most populists were from the middle and upper classes with university
education.
The peasants were not amused and often turned young activists to the
police
The Populists failed
o However, many became Marxists and others were inspired by the protest
movement
SOCIALIST REVOLUTIONARIES (SR)
Emerged from Populists during the 1890s
o Set up 1901, and illegal (like all political parties) until 1905
Were not strictly Marxists
o However, they believed there should be no private ownership of land and that it
should be common
Largely consisted of those who believed that terrorism was the most effective form of
political activity
o Between 1901 and 1905, 2000 members of the establishment were murdered
Called for creation of a Constituent Assembly
SOCIAL DEMOCRATS (SD)
Marxists
o Believed in Marxist Stage Theory
Later split into the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks
o Trotsky was a Menshevik until July/August 1917
o "меньше" Meaning less, and "больше" meaning "more"
The Mensheviks and Bolsheviks names literally mean "the minority" and
"the majority". This was used during the July days in propaganda to benefit
the Bolsheviks as they claimed the Mensheviks were unable to represent the
population as a whole
PRE-1905
THE CLASS SYSTEM
Following the 1861 Emancipation of the Serfs, many peasants received less land than they
had previously farmed and many often perceived this land as God's (or free). Therefore, they felt
that it was unjust when they had to buy this land back from the Tsar's government (they had paid off
the land owners). This created a land problem that plagued all future governments and eventually
aided the downfall of the Romanov dynasty.
Class Proportion of
Population in 1897
Ruling Class (Tsar, court and government) 0.5%
Upper Class (nobility, higher clergy, army officers) 12%
Business Class (factory owners, merchants, bankers) 1.5%
Working Class 4%
Peasants 82%
INDUSTRIALISATION
The large numbers of peasants recorded in the 1897 census demonstrated just how under-
industrialised Russia was. Indeed, modernisation had only largely begun in the 1890s and this
burdened Russia with heavy foreign debts. Before the 1890s, Russian industry was largely defence
based. However, late attempts at modernisation left Russia's military technologically behind other
countries within Europe. The late industrialisation did have one advantage though - Russia was able
to import the latest technology without having to develop it itself.
THE ECONOMY
There was little private capital in Russia and as such, the state had to foot the bill for much
of the industrialisation. Witte (The Minister of Finance from 1893 to 1903) negotiated large loans
from foreign banks mainly Britain, France and Belgium. The Economy also boomed, with an annual
export surplus of over 186 million roubles between 1901 and 1910. However, Russia was still hit by a
recession in the early 1900s.
, The Condition of Russia from 1905 to 1917
POLITICAL IDEAS
POPULISTS
Emerged in the 1870s
Believed that the peasantry should rule as they made up over 80% of the population
o From Russian Narodniks (Narod meaning 'people)
o However, most populists were from the middle and upper classes with university
education.
The peasants were not amused and often turned young activists to the
police
The Populists failed
o However, many became Marxists and others were inspired by the protest
movement
SOCIALIST REVOLUTIONARIES (SR)
Emerged from Populists during the 1890s
o Set up 1901, and illegal (like all political parties) until 1905
Were not strictly Marxists
o However, they believed there should be no private ownership of land and that it
should be common
Largely consisted of those who believed that terrorism was the most effective form of
political activity
o Between 1901 and 1905, 2000 members of the establishment were murdered
Called for creation of a Constituent Assembly
SOCIAL DEMOCRATS (SD)
Marxists
o Believed in Marxist Stage Theory
Later split into the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks
o Trotsky was a Menshevik until July/August 1917
o "меньше" Meaning less, and "больше" meaning "more"
The Mensheviks and Bolsheviks names literally mean "the minority" and
"the majority". This was used during the July days in propaganda to benefit
the Bolsheviks as they claimed the Mensheviks were unable to represent the
population as a whole
