1. Political, Social & Economic Grievances in Early 20th Century Russia
A brief overview

2. Some key terms
Industrialisation: production of goods using machinery rather than manual labour and the growth of industries rather than agriculture as the basis of the nation’s economy
Autocracy: a form of government in which the ruler is unwilling to share her/his political power or have any limits placed on it
Absolute power: the complete power to make laws, overrule laws, and appoint or dismiss ministers and advisers at will

3. Some key terms (cont’d)
Liberals: supporters of liberalism, a view that supported individuals’ rights and freedoms, a system of parliamentary democracy and a free enterprise economy.
Democracy: government by the elected representatives of the people
Socialism: a doctrine promoting people’s ownership of a nation’s resources and the redistribution of its wealth
Revolution: period of rapid, extensive change in political and social structures, including a change in soverignty.

4. 1900 Demographics Russia (1900): Class structure in 1900
23 different nationalities
40% of 132 million = Russian
Only 1.5% belonged to world outside agriculture (USA = 12%)
Class structure in 1900
77% = peasants
10% = Middle Class
1% = Nobility
12% = priests, urban workers, officials, Cossacks & foreigners

5. Social Change: Ideas
Every social class had issues (grievances) against the Tsarist government.
Ilegal political parties and illegal newspapers originated from the growing discontent.
1900s: Russia was on the brink of a crisis:
Failed harvests
Inflation & economic depression
Russia’s peasants & urban workers resorted to riots, demonstrations and strikes to protest their poor conditions.

6. Illegal political parties
Middle & upper class liberals:
Supported the Union of Liberation.
Wanted democracy with a consitution and a parliament to limit the power of the Tsar

7. Illegal political parties
Social Intellectuals
Influenced by Karl Marx’s teachings & philosophy
Formed Social democratic Party
Believed in socialism
Thought revolution was the only way to end Tsarist rule
Sought support from Urban works

8. Illegal political parties
Socialist Revolutionary Party
Aimed to overthrow Tsarist rule
Goal: Achieve land redistribution in favour of peasants
Used Terrorism as one of its methods
Responsible for death of 100s political figures.

9. Peasant Problems
1861 Emancipation: received pay and freed from ownership. Land “given.”
Peasant poverty had been a long standing problem
Freedom still limited.
Redemption payments paid for the land they’d been given.
Needed permission from commune, if they wanted to leave village
Land was owned & paid for by village community, not individual
Old fashioned farming methods – labour intensive, rather than machinery.
Living standards were poor.