Russia - Background (Intro) Flashcards
What percentage of land in Russia was farmable in 20th century?
6%
Why was Russia difficult to govern in relation to population? Give 2 reasons.
- Very big population so lots of people to feed
- Wide range of ethnic groups with different wants
- Size of population meant that things such as police force+ government were under strain
Why was Russia difficult due to the geography? Give 2 reasons.
- Wide range of land in Russia - e.g. step, desert, forests - very little could be farmed
- People very spread out over country so hard to keep a track of population
- A lot of the land was inhospitable due to weather + living conditions
How did Russia’s poor railway impact the country?
- Poor transport made it hard to transport food + people across a very large country
- Made it hard for cities to get food
Who ruled Russia before Nicholas II?
Alexander
When did Nicholas II take the throne?
1894
What was the population of Russia at the start of the 20th century?
2.6 million
When did Nicholas II abdicate?
1917
What system of government did Russia operate under?
Autocracy
What family did Nicholas II belong to?
Romanov family
How many years were the Romanov family on the throne in Russia?
300 years
What did the lack of farmable land contribute to?
- Food shortages in cities
- Rise in food prices
- Famines in rural areas
Why were the urban areas a poor place to live? Give 3 reasons.
- Cramped housing due to rapid industrialisation
- Severe problems with disease
- High death rate
- Low wages + long hours
- Rising rent + food prices
What did the conditions in urban areas lead to?
- Spread of new political ideas
- Growing discontent
When were the serfs emancipated?
1861
