Sergei Witte's Reforms
History: KS3, topic 17.1.2
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
- 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 became Prime Minister in 1905.
- Witte was the Finance Minister between 1892 and 1903.
- Witte attracted foreign investors to Russia.
- Witte 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
- 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.
Test yourself on Sergei Witte's Reforms
What was the name of the currency (money) used in Russia?
What changes did Witte make in the 1890s?