1.1.1

Industrialisation

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Russia's Industrial Weakness

Russia was one of the latest European powers to industrialise. Before the 1890s, its economy was extremely underdeveloped.

Background

Background

  • In 1850, most of Russia's economy focused on producing grain.
  • All the income from selling grain went to the Russian aristocracy (like the Tsar) who owned serfs (effectively slaves owned by the aristocrats).
  • In 1861, the Russian emancipation of the serfs freed all of these slaves to work in other industries.
  • The Russian army had been badly defeated by England in the Crimean War of 1853-1856.
Sergei Witte

Sergei Witte

  • Sergei Witte became head of the Russian railway system in 1889.
  • He was an economist who would become the Russian Prime Minister in 1905.
  • He was responsible for planning and building the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Russian population

Russian population

  • Between 1800 and 1900, the Russian population had grown by 25 million people, from 111 million people to 136 million people.

Sergei Witte's Reforms

Sergei Witte introduced a series of reforms in the 1890s which helped bring Russia into the industrial age.

Witte's currency reforms

Witte's currency reforms

  • In 1896, Witte moved the Russian economy from the Russian rouble to the gold standard.
  • This reform encouraged foreign investment in Russia.
Witte's reforms - transport

Witte's reforms - transport

  • Witte became Prime Minister in 1905. He was the Finance Minister between 1892 and 1903.
  • He attracted foreign investors to Russia.
  • He was also in charge of transport reforms. Between 1893 and 1902, Witte constructed 27,000km of railway lines (doubling Russia's railway capacity).
  • Telegraph lines were built running along the railway lines.
Witte's reforms - urbanisation and industrialisation

Witte's reforms - urbanisation and industrialisation

  • Investors in Britain and France began to invest in Russian industry and Russian companies.
  • More Russians moved to the cities, especially manufacturing cities like Moscow, Donbas, and St Petersburg.
  • Russia became very strong in metallurgy, where 77.5% of all industrial workers worked.
  • Between 1885 and 1913, the Russian economy grew at 3.25% per year.
Jump to other topics
1

The End of Tsardom

1.1

Russia's Economy & Society

1.1.1Industrialisation1.1.2Living & Working Conditions
1.2

Nicholas II's Autocracy & the Court

1.2.1Growth of Revolutionary Opposition1.2.2The 1905 Revolution & the October Manifesto1.2.3Reforming Russia Before 1914 - Stolypin1.2.4The Duma & Political Stalemate
1.3

The First World War

1.3.1The Impact of Military Defeats1.3.2Social & Economic Effects of WW11.3.3Romanov Unpopularity1.3.4The Tsar's Abdication1.3.5Top Grade AO2/3 - The End of Tsardom
2

Lenin's New Society

2.1

The Provisional Government

2.1.1The Failure of the Government2.1.2Social & Economic Problems2.1.3Lenin & Trotsky2.1.4The Growth of the Bolsheviks2.1.5The October / November Revolution2.1.6Top Grade AO2/3 - The Provisional Government
2.2

The Impact of Lenin's Dictatorship

2.2.1The End of the First World War2.2.2The Cheka2.2.3Red Terror & Centralisation2.2.4The Civil War & The Red Army2.2.5Propaganda2.2.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Early Bolshevism & the Civil War
2.3

Social & Economic Developments

2.3.1War Communism2.3.2The Kronstadt Rising2.3.3The New Economic Policy (NEP)2.3.4The Achievements of Lenin & Trotsky2.3.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Social & Economic Developments
3

Stalin's USSR

3.1

Stalin the Dictator

3.1.1The Power Struggle to Succeed Lenin3.1.2The Communist Party & Government3.1.3The Terror & the Purges3.1.4The Secret Police3.1.5Cult of Personality3.1.6Propaganda & Censorship under Stalin3.1.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Stalin's Dictatorship
3.2

Stalin's Modernisation of the USSR

3.2.1Collectivisation3.2.2Five Year Plans3.2.3Social & Economic Consequences3.2.4Social & Economic Consequences 23.2.5The Extent of Modernisation
3.3

Impact of the Second World War

3.3.1Stalin's Wartime Leadership3.3.2Political, Economic & Social Consequences of War3.3.3Top Grade AO2/3 - Modernisation of the USSR

Practice questions on Industrialisation

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Which war defeat first led Russia to consider reforming it's arms industry?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Who was Sergei Witte?True / false
  3. 3
    What was the name of the currency (money) used in Russia? Multiple choice
  4. 4
    What changes did Witte make in the 1890s?Fill in the list
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Living & Working Conditions