17.1.3

Living & Working Conditions

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Living Conditions in Russian Cities

Industrialisation and urbanisation often worsened living conditions for people working in cities.

Illustrative background for Results of industrialisationIllustrative background for Results of industrialisation ?? "content

Results of industrialisation

  • Witte's policy of industrialisation meant that lots of workers moved to cities for work.
    • People often lived in cramped houses, but this was probably a better existence than living as a serf.
  • Trade unions only became legal in 1905.
Illustrative background for Recession of 1899-1902Illustrative background for Recession of 1899-1902 ?? "content

Recession of 1899-1902

  • Between 1899 and 1902 the Russian economy contracted and industry struggled.
  • There were bad harvests, which meant there was not enough food.
  • Foreign investors stopped investing money in Russia (as happened in Germany in the 1920s after the Great Depression).
  • Unemployment rose and as living standards fell, workers became more open to the ideas of communism.
Illustrative background for OverpopulationIllustrative background for Overpopulation ?? "content

Overpopulation

  • A quarter of a million people moved to St. Petersburg between 1890 and 1900.
  • With not enough housing being built, more and more people lived in a fixed number of houses and living conditions fell.

Conditions in the Countryside

The 1890s were a challenging time for peasants, following the 1891 famine.

Illustrative background for FaminesIllustrative background for Famines ?? "content

Famines

  • The 1891 famine led to revolts against landlords.
  • Bad harvests are often associated with rebellions and revolutions.
  • There was a very high birth rate in rural Russia.
    • Contraception was not commonly used at the time.
Illustrative background for Urbanisation Illustrative background for Urbanisation  ?? "content

Urbanisation

  • Urbanisation means that the number of people living in cities compared to the countryside increases.
  • Many peasants were landless and moved to the cities during the 1890s to escape the famine and find work.
    • Cities could not absorb this number of people.

Jump to other topics

1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5Medieval Religion

1.6The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12European Renaissance

1.13Norman Conquest & Control

1.14Historical Skills

2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4King John

2.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6The Black Death

3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Russian Revolution: 1917 AD

18The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

19World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

20The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

21Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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