Social Developments In Russia 1894-1914 Flashcards
(22 cards)
What did rapid industrialisation lead to?
Significant urbanisation
How much did the urban population increase by between 1867 and 1917
It quadrupled
What did the number of factory workers increase by?
It increased from 2 million in 1900 to 6 million by 1914
What were factory conditions like?
They were poor with many forced to stay in dormitories with up to twenty people in one room
What happened to literacy rates?
They significantly improved with 40% of the population being literate by 1914 compared to 21% in 1897
How did the demographic of the workforce change?
Large numbers of women went to work as the feminist movement gained momentum, advocating for education and womens’ rights
How were womens’ rights not furthered?
They still faced significant social and legal restrictions eg the right to divorce
What did Stolypin implement?
Agricultural reforms aimed to creating a class of prosperous peasant farmers. These reforms included the promotion of private land ownership and the resettlement of peasants to Siberia
By 1914 how many peasants had settled in Siberia?
Over 3 million
What were urban living conditions like?
They were harsh, often housing and sanitation was inadequate
In St Petersburg how many homes had no running water and lacked adequate sewer systems?
40%
Was disease prevalent in urban areas?
Cholera outbreaks in particular were common
How many people died from cholera in St Petersburg in 1908-1909?
30,000
What did urban areas become breeding grounds for?
Political discontent and revolutionary ideas
How many stoppages/ strikes were there in 1914?
3,574
What was the growth of radical political movements fuelled by?
Poor working conditions and social inequality
What did the expansion of education lead to?
A more educated urban middle class and increased political activism
What exposed workers to better education opportunities?
Worker education programmes and reading rooms
What new opportunities were provided by industrialisation?
New opportunities for social mobility, particularly for skilled workers and entrepreneurs
What were the issues with increasing industrialisation?
The benefits of economic growth were unevenly distributed, this exacerbated social tensions, especially as there was no minimum wage or maximum hours
What flourished during this period?
Russian literature, art and music with figures like Leo Tolstoy gaining international recognition. It was the ‘silver age of Russian culture’ as the intellectual and artistic scene boomed, reflecting the social change of the period
