WW1- Economic and social factors- huge societal unrest

Question 1

What was the financial position of Russia like before WW1 in 1914?

Answer 1

-remarkable stability
-gold standard
-largest gold reserve in Europe

Question 2

How much was the total cost of WW1 for the Russian government?

Answer 2

3 billion roubles

Question 3

How much was pre- war spending for the Russian government?

Answer 3

1.5bn roubles

Question 4

How did the government attempt to deal with excessive spending following the war?

Answer 4

-war bonds (promised fixed rate after war)
-foreign loans
-printing money

Question 5

What did the governments solution to spending INITIALLY cause?

Answer 5

-a brief increase in employment + slightly higher income/

Question 6

What did the governments solution to spending EVENTUALLY cause?

Answer 6

-rampant inflation- prices by 400%
-gold standard ruined

Question 7

What happened to earnings and food prices between 1914 and 16?

Answer 7

-earnings doubled
-prices quadroupled.

Question 8

What was happening in regard to food supplies?

Answer 8

-food requisitioned by army.
-losing availability of fertilisers.

Question 9

What happened to the bread ration in Petrograd?

Answer 9

fell by 25% in the first 3 months of 1916.

Question 10

How many economic and political strikes in 1915?

Answer 10

political- 116 strikes
economic -330 strikes

Question 11

How many economic and political strikes in 1916?

Answer 11

Political- 95 strikes
Economic- 354.

Question 12

What do numbers of strikes indicate?

Answer 12

-economic issues of war most important, not political.