Social Grievances
In 1861, the workers were given their freedom in which they were to be paid for their work and given land. However, the organisation of such freedom continued to disadvantage workers, who were to pay significant taxes on their land. The Russian economy at the time was heavily based on agriculture, with approximately 80% of the labor force employed in this sector.
It is for this reason that the peasantry were often called the ‘dark masses’. The fact that the peasantry made up such a large portion of society meant that they had power in numbers if they ever sought to take action. In an attempt to prevent this from occurring, any action was met with brutal control by the army (under orders of those higher on the social pyramid).
Impact of Industrialisation and urbanisation
Industrialisation refers to the move of production from manual labour to machine built in large factories. Some countries were able to utilise the outputs of industrialisation more than others, with countries like Britain, France and Germany leading technological innovations and becoming superpowers in particular industries.
While Russia sought to industrialise, the size of the country made this increasingly difficult, with few urban centres emerging. Conditions in the factories and the city for the peasantry were unsanitary and cramped, with workers earning very little for the double-figure hours they worked.
It is for this reason that the peasantry were often called the ‘dark masses’. The fact that the peasantry made up such a large portion of society meant that they had power in numbers if they ever sought to take action. In an attempt to prevent this from occurring, any action was met with brutal control by the army (under orders of those higher on the social pyramid).
Impact of Industrialisation and urbanisation
Industrialisation refers to the move of production from manual labour to machine built in large factories. Some countries were able to utilise the outputs of industrialisation more than others, with countries like Britain, France and Germany leading technological innovations and becoming superpowers in particular industries.
While Russia sought to industrialise, the size of the country made this increasingly difficult, with few urban centres emerging. Conditions in the factories and the city for the peasantry were unsanitary and cramped, with workers earning very little for the double-figure hours they worked.
One can see how such conditions were the breeding grounds for discontent. Trade Unions were illegal, with many of the laws for worker protection loosely regulated with littler employer accountability. It is no wonder that eventually workers sought to stand up for themselves in the form of protests and marches.
Ethnic composition of Russia
The Tsar had a lot of problems controlling and governing his empire as many of its inhabitants were part of countries that had been conquered by Tsar Nicholas II’s ancestors. This would have caused a lot of resentment towards the Tsar which would eventually cause rebellions to the Tsars government. These peoples would all have their own customs, languages and ways of life. The desire of many of these groups to form their own nations or independent states would cause conflict with the tsar’s attempts to maintain his large empire. Consequently the Tsar and his laws would not be able to accommodate the needs of all of these different nationalities. Moreover, Nicholas II inherited Russification policies. These policies aimed to strengthen Russian culture in the face of massive amounts of ethnic diversity. In strengthening Russian culture, language and religion, it meant the suppression of others.
Ethnic composition of Russia
The Tsar had a lot of problems controlling and governing his empire as many of its inhabitants were part of countries that had been conquered by Tsar Nicholas II’s ancestors. This would have caused a lot of resentment towards the Tsar which would eventually cause rebellions to the Tsars government. These peoples would all have their own customs, languages and ways of life. The desire of many of these groups to form their own nations or independent states would cause conflict with the tsar’s attempts to maintain his large empire. Consequently the Tsar and his laws would not be able to accommodate the needs of all of these different nationalities. Moreover, Nicholas II inherited Russification policies. These policies aimed to strengthen Russian culture in the face of massive amounts of ethnic diversity. In strengthening Russian culture, language and religion, it meant the suppression of others.
References for this page
Cheremukhin, A., Golosov, M., Guriev, S. & A. Tysvinski (2014). The Industrialisation and economic Development of Russia through the lens of a Neoclassical Growth Model. Manuscript submitted for publication. Retrieved from http://scholar.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/draft_submission.pdf
Dennett, B., & Dixon, S. (2008). Key features of modern history. South Melbourne, Vic.: Oxford University Press.
Lynch, M. (1992). Access to History: Reaction and Revolution: Russia 1894-1924 Fourth Edition. London: Hodder & Stoughton Educational.
Miller, A. & Dobrynin, S. (2008). Romanov Empire and Nationalism: Essays in the Methodology of Historical Research. New York: Central European University Press.
Proctor, H. (1995). Ruling Russia: From Nicholas II to Stalin. Melbourne: Longman.
Cheremukhin, A., Golosov, M., Guriev, S. & A. Tysvinski (2014). The Industrialisation and economic Development of Russia through the lens of a Neoclassical Growth Model. Manuscript submitted for publication. Retrieved from http://scholar.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/draft_submission.pdf
Dennett, B., & Dixon, S. (2008). Key features of modern history. South Melbourne, Vic.: Oxford University Press.
Lynch, M. (1992). Access to History: Reaction and Revolution: Russia 1894-1924 Fourth Edition. London: Hodder & Stoughton Educational.
Miller, A. & Dobrynin, S. (2008). Romanov Empire and Nationalism: Essays in the Methodology of Historical Research. New York: Central European University Press.
Proctor, H. (1995). Ruling Russia: From Nicholas II to Stalin. Melbourne: Longman.