The “Great Spurt” 1892-1903 Driven by Sergei Witte

The Poor State of Russia History Research Topic The Great Spurt 1892-1903 In Russia after the Great famine of 1891, the reason for hundreds of thousands dead, as the government was blamed for incompetence. With it’s backwards economy compared to other accelerating European nations and its ancient outlook on Tsarism, a small middle class with a huge gap in its public classes.

The Reformer History Research Topic The Great Spurt 1892-1903 Then from 1892-1903 the process of industrialisation began, which was driven by one man, Sergei Witte the Minister of Finance, he opened Russia’s factories to large numbers of European experts to help guide Russia through the industrial revolution.

What did he introduce? History Research Topic The Great Spurt 1892-1903 He helped create a stable currency, especially from the Gold rubble. Sergei Witte used foreign loans and investments to build railways, speeding up transportation and developing industry.

The Great Spurt History Research Topic The Great Spurt 1892-1903 So the 1890s saw the ‘Great Spurt’ of modernisation and industrialisation in Russia, from the increase in production of coal in Ukraine, oil in Caucasus, Iron, chemicals, engineering petroleum and steel industries; were all established within 10 years.

From poverty to working class The Great Spurt 1892-1903 History Research Topic A new social and industrial working class appeared, with a modern economic position holding better living conditions; more peasants were leaving poverty and a large move of people from stricken farms to huge developing cities increased such as Moscow and St Petersburg.

The effects. History Research Topic The Great Spurt 1892-1903 Despite Russia’s rapid modernisation and social institutions, its politics remained in age of Tsarism. The growth of the new industrial working class demanded better working and living conditions and political rights, since workers didn’t effectively gain from the industrial revolution, wages remained as low as currently.

The start of political conflicts History Research Topic The Great Spurt 1892-1903 And as the government attempted to print more money, inflation struck. There were no trade unions, no working support, workers could be fired and hired at the whim of the employer. There was absence of workers protection and wages. Hence the demands for political and social reform saw the formation of a number of political parties that turned to extreme measures to demand reformation.