1. Russian Accelerated Industrialization

2. Definition
19th century
Attempts made to make up for Russia’s lagging industrial capacity compared with western European nations

3. Why so late? Still using medieval agricultural techniques
No strong agricultural foundation = no industrialization
Late 19th c. legumes planted
More cattle
More cheese, milk, butter, fertilizer, etc.

4. Need for Industrialization
Activities by Japan and China
Need for railroads to help with military and political coordination
Economic development for a large country
Further utilize the raw materials available
Export grain to the west
Open Siberia up for development

5. How to industrialize? Sergei Witte’s policies (expansionist)
Conversion to the gold standard
Heavy taxation on the peasantry
Foreign loans and investments (GR, GB, FR)
Accelerated development of heavy industry
Build trans-Siberian railroad (finished in 1904)

6. Trans-Siberian Route

8. Results Modern factories develop in major cities in Russia and Poland
Growing urban and working class
High tariffs to protect new industries
Russia becomes the 4th in the world of industrialized nations
Class of industrialists emerge

10. Consequences Debtor nation Russo-Japanese War 1904
Russian Revolution 1905
WWI/abdication of Tsar Nicholas II
***Total economic loss and drain on treasury