Alexander III & Industrial Reform

So far… So Russia1. Russia – an introduction2. The Crimean War3. Alexander II – Reform4. Opponents of Alex II and Alex III5. Alexander III & Industrialisation6. Russo-Japanese war 19057. Revolution of 19058. Nicholas II, Stolypin and Russia on the eve of war9. World War 110. Revolutions of 191711. The Russian Civil War / Lenin12. Rise of Stalin13. Five Year Plans, Collectivisation and the Great Terror14. World War Two15. Last Years of Stalin

QuestionTo what extent did war provide a catalyst for change in Russia between 1853-1953?

Problems facing Alexander III

• Unexpectedly became Tsar• Challenges of governing

huge Russian Empire• Alexander II’s reforms had

increased popular expectations

• Pressures from advisers – Westernisers & Slavophils

• New political classes – demanding more political participation

Task• Read Oxley p. 43-45

• Make notes on ‘undoing the reforms’

• Refer back to the reforms of Alexander II. How many did Alexander III change?

• List the factors that caused these changes?

• Give any examples of positive reforms under Alex III

The 1891 famine• Famine hit 17 out of Russia’s 39 provinces.• An early winter followed by long, hot and dry summer ruined all the crops.Hutchinson describes this as ‘the defining event of the decade.’• Government had heavily taxed consumer goods to raise revenue. Peasants

forced to sell more and more grain leaving them with no reserves.• Censors prevented newspapers from reporting on famine.• Government postposed a ban on grain exports furthering the problem –

causing many to blame them.• Eventually they appealed for voluntary assistance schemes and a Special

Committee on Famine Relief was set up.• Nobility and intelligentsia (Tolstoy and Chekov) pulled together and

contributed to famine relief.• 350,000 died from starvation or disease.• Demonstrated that Russian society could pull together in time of crisis –

Zemstvo leaders, Land Captains, peasants, local gentry and national government.

To what extent did Russia industrialise by 1914?

Industrialisation?• Throughout the 19th century until 1914, Russia had been an

agriculturally based economy. • Britain, France, USA and other Western countries had already

experienced an industrial revolution and had transformed into military powers.

• Serfdom ending in 1861 had made modernisation more feasible as a greater number of workers could move to the cities.

• Government intervention attempted to encourage industrial growth – – a state bank set up in 1860 to finance via credit and attract foreign

investment.– Reform of taxation to increase govt. revenue– Tariff protection of Russian industry– Railway construction (Trans-Siberian Railway)

• Ministers of Finance, Ivan Vyshnegradsky and Sergei Witte pushed for a more long-term, strategic approach to the economy, with large-scale state intervention in industry. 

• How successful were attempts to modernise Russia. Complete a chart similar to the one below.

• Oxley, p.46-9. • Study Source 11 on p.48. How useful is this source in

understanding the conditions of workers at the time?

Reforms introduced by Witte

Impact of Witte’s reforms

Sergei Witte

Prime Minister of Russia

Witte’s reforms

• Overseas loans and investments• High domestic taxes interest rates to raise capital• Limited import of foreign goods (to stop Russian

money going abroad)• Value of rouble linked to value of gold to keep it

high – GOLD STANDARD• Expansion of railway system, e.g. Trans-Siberian

Railway (opened 1903)• Improving balance of trade (e.g. 1901-10, Russia

exporting 186m. roubles more than importing)• Increasing industrial output, e.g. coal, iron, grain

POSITIVES• Textiles and sugar enjoyed some prosperity• Railways expanded at a colossal rate (400% 1868-78) but this was largely a result of

private enterprise. • Heavy industry and consumer goods grew 5% per year. • However, this was often punctuated by many periods of depression.• Overall growth in the economy of over 8% per year in 1890s. • 1906-1913 6% p/a.

PROBLEMS• Between 1890-1905 – other economies were doing better than Russia.• By 1913 industry only was 20% of national income. Only 18% lived in towns and

Russia was Europe’s largest debtor.• Economy still heavily dependent on agriculture.• The complex system of land ownership prevented agricultural innovation. System

was inflexible - the mir still owned the land and direct cultivation.• Peasants were conservative and loyal to orthodox church. They would sometimes

move back and forth between urban areas and countryside.• The effects of industrialisation can be seen in the cities. A strong, distinct working

class was developing. WHY IS THIS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM?• They gained the right to strike in 1905 and form trade unions in 1906 though had to

endure poor living and working conditions.

HistoriographyS1The abolition of serfdom in 1861 in theory made industrial development more feasible, since the population was less tied to the land. Also there were many ex-serfs without any land who were looking for work. A potential industrial workforce was available. The year 1861 can in many respects be taken as the beginning of Russia’s modernisation. Falkus, The Industrialisation of Modern Russia 1700-1914

S2In three decades (by 1913) Russia had industrialised on a rapid scale than any other country during that period. No explanation of Russians industrial growth under the Soviet regime after 1917 would be complete without taking into account the industrial base inherited from Tsarist days.Falkus, The Industrialisation of Modern Russia 1700-1914

Read the opinions of Falkus1. Look at S1. Why does Falkus believe Russia was beginning to modernise?2. According to S2, to what extent did Russia modernise by 1914?3. What information could we use to argue against S2?

HistoriographyS1The abolition of serfdom in 1861 in theory made industrial development more feasible, since the population was less tied to the land. Also there were many ex-serfs without any land who were looking for work. A potential industrial workforce was available. The year 1861 can in many respects be taken as the beginning of Russia’s modernisation. Falkus, The Industrialisation of Modern Russia 1700-1914

S2In three decades (by 1913) Russia had industrialised on a rapid scale than any other country during that period. No explanation of Russians industrial growth under the Soviet regime after 1917 would be complete without taking into account the industrial base inherited from Tsarist days.Falkus, The Industrialisation of Modern Russia 1700-1914

Read the opinions of Falkus1. Look at S1. Why does Falkus believe Russia was beginning to modernise?2. According to S2, to what extent did Russia modernise by 1914?3. What information could we use to argue against S2?

Homework• Research ‘Russification.’

• What does it mean?

• Why do you think Tsars would deem it necessary?

Start to make notes on History Today articles.