Russia 1894 - 1917 Life under Tsarist Rule

The New Tsar

Nicholas II was crowned Tsar of Russia in 1894 at the city of St Petersburg. A police report from the day of inauguration of the Tsar illustrated that an estimated 1,200 people were crushed to death as people showed up to the city to see their new Tsar. Nicholas was nicknamed 'the Little Father of Russia'. 

Key Personality: Tsar Nicholas II

Nikolai Aleksandrovich Romanov was born in 1868 near the town of St Petersburg. He succeeded his father in 1894 to be crowned the Tsar of Russia. Nicholas and his wife Alexandra of Hesse-Darmstadt married the same year and had four children. The most famous being their son, Alexis, who suffered from a genetic disorder known as haemophilia.  To Nicholas the Tsar was to act as an autocrat. This is a ruler who holds absolute power. In a time of colonial expansion, Nicholas did not want Russia to miss out on the potential for the expansion of land so he attempted to expand into Manchuria. This attempted takeover promoted war with the Japanese in 1904. Unfortunately for the Tsar, Japan beat Russia and this led to strikes and riots across the country. The army shot at a crowd in St Petersburg during 'Bloody Sunday' protests in January 1905. Opposition developed against the Tsar to introduce radical reforms. This came in the granting of a constitution and establishment of a parliament known as the Duma. Nicholas attempted to make limited concessions; voting laws were altered to prevent the election of radicals and the secret police continued to deal with opposition.  The beginning of the First World War temporarily strengthened the monarchy, however, in mid-1915 the Tsar decided to take direct military command of the Russian army and disaster ensued. Consistent military failure became associated with his commanding.  While Nicholas was away, his wife, Alexandra, took an active role in government. Russia suffered heavy loses in the war, severe food shortages occurred throughout the country and the economy was experiencing high inflation. In February 1917, widespread demonstrations occurred in the capital Petrograd and Nicholas has no other alternative but to abdicate (when a monarch renounces their throne) from his role as Tsar. 

Summary:  Born in 1868 and became the Tsar in 1894 Married to Alexandra of Hesse in the same year Held that the Tsar should be autocratic Determined not to allow economic and social reform Lost a war to the Japanese 1904-1905 Lost the trust of the people Abdicated in 1917  Killed during the Russian Civil War by the Bolsheviks (1918)

The Russian Empire under the Tsar

Russia was a vast empire that incorporated vasts amounts of land and many different nationalities. Approximately 40% of the Tsar's subjects spoke Russian as their first language. Further, the Tsar had followers who were loyal to him, mainly the Cossacks.  Other people in the empire suffered harsh treatment. For example, the Jewish community received a lot of racial prejudice and attacks, such as pogroms (a massacre or persecution instigated by the government or by the ruling class against a minority group). 

Industrialisation

From the late 19th century, the Tsars wanted to witness the rise of Russia to an industrial power. This mainly came under the office of senior economic minister, Sergei Witte, who introduced policies to result in industrial growth. Oil and coal production trebled at this time and iron production vastly increased. Peasants left their lands to work in these new industries, but they still experienced poor living conditions. This came at a time when the Russian population increased rapidly from 1863 to 1914. 

Sergei Witte

Witte became the Minister of Finance in 1892 and lasted until 1903. He is responsible for the efforts to industrialise Russia during the reign of Tsar Nicholas II. Witte pursued the reform of the agriculture industry as he believed it was a strong industry. It was in desperate need of development.  In 1892, Witte accepted foreign loans to construct the Trans-Siberian Railway. In 1900, the increase in coal output reached 15 million tonnes. Wool, iron and steel industries all expanded with industrial output making a three-fold increase between 1885-1900.  About 3 million individuals were working in the industrial sector and development was helped by the tariffs placed on the goods that Russian factories produced. The government still had to pay for the loans it received and this was done through things like taking a monopoly (the exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service) on the alcohol industry. 

Industrialisation and Development

Industrialisation:  When Nicholas II was made Tsar, Russia was poor and militarily weak Industrialisation of the Western kind was needed This led to the development of trade unions and politics Some progress had been made before Nicholas II was crowned:  1855 - One railway had been constructed 1860 - Over 1,000 miles of railway were built 1888 - 13,000 miles were constructed This led to an increase in iron, steel, coal and textile industries production Foreign loans were central to Russian development:  French finances provided money for raw materials and machinery The Nobel brothers from Sweden initiated the Russian oil industry  Britain established the New Russian Company; the goal was to erect factories in the Donetz Basin A telegraphic system and factories were established by Siemens of Prussia Development:  As highlighted previously, foreign loans were required in order to pay for development in Russia. Further, Russia had to find various means of making the money to pay back the interest on the borrowed money and loans.  Wheat was exported for money Peasant taxes were increased by the government; money in the form of grain The peasant class ended up becoming even poorer Industrial workers suffered as well as grain shortages led to a rise in price Famine resulted, but exports continued The number of individuals working in towns increased also

Living and Working Conditions - Villages

Roughly 80% of Russia's population were peasants located in communes. However, there were some prosperous, well-off farmers and these were known as the kulaks. Peasants suffered from dire and desperate living and working conditions.  Two of the most common occurrences were famine and starvation. The average life expectancy for most peasants farmers was 40 years. Russia's land was not suitable for farming, yet an increase in the population by 50% between 1860 and 1897 meant that more land was required to sustain the population.  Families received a strip of land from sections of large fields that were divided up. The subdivision of these fields was carried out by peasant councils (mir). When a family had sons the land was subdivided and shared between them. As the population increased, the amount of land each peasant had to sustain themselves and their family decreased significantly. What did not help crop production was the ancient farming methods that the Russian peasants were accustomed to.  Russian peasants received no basic education and few could read or write. Many of the peasants were loyal to the Tsar though, despite living in destitute conditions. This was connected with their religious affiliations; the priest would honour the Tsar and call peasants to remain loyal. Not all peasants supported the Tsar though, the main opposition were known as the Social Revolutionaries. This group resented the aristocracy, the Church and Tsar for the vast amount of land they owned.  Aristocracy:  These individuals lived in the vast estates and huge houses in Russia. During the reign of Nicholas II, the aristocracy composed about 1.5% of the population but possessed about 25% of the land. The aristocracy were loyal to the Tsar. In the countryside they controlled local councils called zemstva. They remained loyal to the Tsar in order to keep society structured as it was. The fear amongst rich Russians was the peasants would rise up and take their possessions from them.