Working and Living conditions in Russia by 1914

Question 1

Population

Answer 1

1914 = urban workers = 4% of pop

1914 = Increase in migration → 9mil migrant workers

overpopulated central regions meant living standards remained low
not enough teachers + doctors

Question 2

New advancements

Answer 2

urban factories, new tech, railways, telegraph
Hospitals, skls, libraries, and reading clubs appearing

Question 3

Education

Answer 3

Primary skls quadrupled by 1911
1914 = Half of children aged 8-11 enrolled in primary skl
1914 = Literacy increased to 40% of the population

this gave rise to a class of literate youth, conscious of their position
divide between younger + older peasants
Youth better able to deal with tech + money economy
wanted education + social betterment, more progressive

Question 4

Nobles

Answer 4

Nobles owned 40% of land by 1905
Nobles adapted
Became professionals in medical, legal and education sectors

some nobles felt increasingly threatened so set up Al Russian Union o landowners, to represent their interests (1905)
They opposed Stolypin’s reforms = encouraged Tsar to reject further reform → contributed to Revolution

Question 5

Workers living standards
(St.P)

Answer 5

1914 = 3/4 living in St.p were peasants by birth
Facilities needed to provide for this growing urban class were grossly inadequate.
barrack-like buildings = overcrowded + no sanitation
had to eat in canteens + wash in communal baths
in St.P 40% of houses had no running water or sewage = 30,000 died of cholera in 1908-09

Rents remained high taking half of workers’ wages + some lived in streets or factories

Question 6

Peasants living standards

Answer 6

many enjoyed higher living standards
+ some able to produce foodstuffs for the market
+pay taxes with money to spare

peasants were buying and renting land, and some were employing

however,
redemption payments (until 1907) + taxes + indirect taxes drove peasants to debt + poverty

Z survey found 2/3 of households couldn’t feed themselves without going into debt
lived miserably + died of disease

Question 7

Older peasants and the Mir

Answer 7

Older peasants = traditional wanted to stop this

communal institutions remained strong embodying peasant notions of social justice
Mir appreciated by peasants as a life jacket

Question 8

Reforms

Answer 8

1912 - sickness + accident insurance
1914 - working hours reduced to 10

Question 9

Women

Answer 9

patriarchal nature = women’s rights restricted
1914 = women make up ⅓ of the workforce
But they have the lowest pay which is less than half the average