Russian Accelerated Industrialization
Definition 19th century Attempts made to make up for Russia’s lagging industrial capacity compared with western European nations
Why so late? Still using medieval agricultural techniques No strong agricultural foundation = no industrialization Late 19th c. legumes planted More cattle More cheese, milk, butter, fertilizer, etc.
Need for Industrialization Activities by Japan and China Need for railroads to help with military and political coordination Economic development for a large country Further utilize the raw materials available Export grain to the west Open Siberia up for development
How to industrialize? Sergei Witte’s policies (expansionist) Conversion to the gold standard Heavy taxation on the peasantry Foreign loans and investments (GR, GB, FR) Accelerated development of heavy industry Build trans-Siberian railroad (finished in 1904)
Trans-Siberian Route
Results Modern factories develop in major cities in Russia and Poland Growing urban and working class High tariffs to protect new industries Russia becomes the 4th in the world of industrialized nations Class of industrialists emerge
Consequences Debtor nation Russo-Japanese War 1904 Russian Revolution 1905 WWI/abdication of Tsar Nicholas II ***Total economic loss and drain on treasury