Unit 1: The Last Romanov: Nicholas II and the End of Imperial Russia ( )

Nicholas II and George V

Post Soviet Russia

A. Economic Conditions: Industrial Development The “Great Reforms (1861) of Alexander II. Economic policy was led by Minister of Finance Sergei Witte ( ) Promoted the development of heavy industry with the main focus on railroad construction: Between the railroad network doubled Between the Trans-Siberian Railway was constructed.

Economic Conditions: Industrial Development Annual growth rates in national output at 7% during the 1890’s and 6% until 1914 – among the highest in Europe. To promote industrialization, Witte: Increased exports / cutback imports Raised taxes on consumer goods Made alcohol production a state monopoly (1894) – tax revenues from vodka sale huge Attracted large amounts of foreign capital

Economic Conditions: Industrial Development Problem of Russia’s Heavy Reliance on Foreign Loans and Foreign Capital: 1/3 of total industrial investment was foreign France owned 2/3 of the pig iron industry & ½ of Russia’s coal industry Germany: chemical and electrical engineering Britain: oil Russia was like a colony of the advanced capitalist countries. Small & weak middle class. Russian industrialization was state led, foreign financed and led to weak native middle class.

Economic Conditions: Industrial Development Eight Basic Regions of Russian Industrial Development (1900) 1. Moscow – textile industries, metal processing, chemical plants 2. St. Petersburg – metal processing, chemical plants 3. Lodz and Warsaw (Poland) – textile, coal, iron, metal processing, machine building, textile industries. 4. Southeast Ukraine – coal, iron ore, basic chemical products 5. Ural region – iron, non-ferrous metals, minerals. 6. Baku (Azerbaijan) - oil

Economic Conditions: The Gentry As a result of the “Great Reforms,” the gentry as a class declined in numbers and economic strength.

Economic Conditions: The Workers The “Great Reforms” and industrialization led to the enlargement of the working class (proletariat). But by 1914: Only 3 million out of population of 170 million were workers! (major problem for the Communists) Over half of all the industrial enterprises in Russia employed more than 500 workers each.

Economic Conditions: The Workers The conditions of the proletariat in Russia was worse than in western Europe or the United States: Deprived of the right to vote until Labor unions were banned until 1906 Labor laws were poorly enforced. Workers treated like serfs.

Economic Conditions: The Peasants 85-90% of the population by “Great Reforms” emancipated the serfs and was suppose to redistribute land to them. Problems: Government transferred land to peasant communes (mir), not to individual peasants Peasants had to pay “redemption payments” as compensation to the gentry for their freedom

Economic Conditions: The Peasants Land prices doubled between and almost doubled again between 1905 and – 52% of peasant households could not support themselves from the land allotments After redemption payments were abolished (1906), they were hit with consumer goods tax Peasant paid annually to the state in taxes and redemption payments 10 times as much per acre as members of the gentry

Economic Conditions: The Peasants Peter Stolypin – Prime Minister ) Land Reform to break up the peasant communes and make peasants into private landowners. By 1916 – 24% of the total number of peasant families left the communes and received their own land. Government support for migration to new uncultivated lands grew. The land under cultivation increased. Agricultural output grew.

Peter Stolypin ( ) Prime Minister from Cracked down harshly on opponents of the monarchy Land Reform Assassinated in 1911.

Political Conditions: The only absolute monarchy in Europe Revolution of Strikes, political disorder - rise of the “soviets” - Bloody Sunday (Jan.22, 1905) - October Manifesto (October, 1905)

Political Conditions: October Manifesto allowed for nationwide elections for a new parliament – DUMA. Almost universal male suffrage.

Political Conditions: First DUMA (1906)  45 – parties of the Right  32 – various national and religious groups (Poles, Muslims)  184 – Cadets (liberal)  124 – Leftists  112 – No party affiliation Social Democrats (Marxist) and Social Revolutionaries (Socialist Agrarian) boycotted the elections. “National groups” like the Poles, people from the Caucasus and Central Asia saw their delegates curtailed or eliminated. After 73 days, Nicholas II disbanded the Duma.

Political Conditions: – The Jews of the Russian Empire Increased pogroms - Ukraine, Moldavia (Kishinev, 1903) - ghettos - “The Black Hundred” Limited access to education / political participation - Konstantin Pobedonostsev – “The Jewish Problem” - “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion”- privately printed in 1897, published Claimed that Jews were trying to take over the world.

Political Conditions: – The Jews of the Russian Empire Jewish Response to Rising Anti-Semitism: 1. Emigrate to the United States 2. Zionist Movement 3. Join the radical revolutionary parties in Russia

Political Conditions: Second DUMA (1907) Nicholas II wanted a more loyal Duma. Instead he got a Duma who’s members and opposition were more extreme that the moderates of the first Duma: - Leftwing membership rose from 124 – 216 deputies. Social Democrats – 64 Social Revolutionaries – 20 Cadet delegates fell from 184 – 99. Only 31 members from the first Duma. June 16, 1907 – Second Duma dissolved by Prime Minister Peter Stolypin.

Political Conditions: Third and Fourth DUMAS ( ) Nicholas II changes electoral laws to cut the right to vote for peasants and workers while increasing the rights of the gentry ,000 members of the landed gentry were guaranteed 50% of the seats in the Duma. - A vote of a landlord counted roughly as much as the votes of: Four members of the upper bourgeoisie 65 average middle class people 260 peasants 540 workers

Foreign Policy ( ) 1. The Balkans 2. Central Asia and “The Great Game” 3. Russo-Japanese War ( ) 4. World War I ( )

“The Great Game” (19 th Century)

“The Great Game” (21 st Century)

Balkans Map

The Far East Prior to the Russo- Japanese War