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What were the social, economic and political conditions in Rus... - India And The Contemporary World – I
What were the social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905?
The answer describing the conditions in Russia before 1905:
Social Conditions:
Division of Society: About 85% of the Russian empire’s population earned their living from agriculture.
Workers: Workers were a divided group based on skill and village origin. However, they united to strike work against employers.
Peasants: Peasants had no respect for the nobility and often refused to pay rent or even murdered landlords. They wanted the land of the nobles to be given to them.
Economic Conditions:
Industry: Industries were found in pockets, mainly in St. Petersburg and Moscow.
Industrial Growth: Many factories were set up in the 1890s due to the expansion of the railway network and foreign investment. Coal production doubled and iron and steel output quadrupled.
Working Conditions: Most workers worked for low wages and long hours (up to 15 hours). Accommodation and sanitation were poor.
Political Conditions:
Autocracy: Russia was an autocracy. Unlike other European rulers, the Tsar (Nicholas II) was not subject to parliament.
Illegal Parties: All political parties were illegal in Russia before 1914.
Demand for Change: Liberals, Social Democrats, and Socialist Revolutionaries worked together with peasants and workers to demand a constitution.