Question

in what ways the working population in Russia different from other countries in Europe, before 1917

Answer 1

The Social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1917 was backward:
→ Social Conditions:85% of Russia’s population was agriculturist.Industry was existent, but rarely in which most of was privately owned. Workers were divided on the basis of their occupation. They mainly migrated to cities for employment in factories. The peasant community was deeply religious, but did not care much about the nobility. They believed that land must be divided amongst themselves.

→ Economic Condition: Russia was going through bad period economically. Prices of essential good rises while real wages decreased by 20%leading to the famous St.Petersburg strikeThis strike started a series of events that are together known as the 1905 Revolution. During this revolution, there were strikes all over the country, universities closed down, and various professionals and workers established the Union of Unions, demanding the establishment of a constituent assembly.
→ Political Condition:Political parties were illegal before 1914.The Russian Social Democratic Workers Party was founded in 1898 by socialists who respected Marx’s ideas. In 1903, this party was divided into two groups – Mensheviks and Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks, who were in majority, were led by Lenin who is regarded as the greatest thinker on socialism after Marx

Answer 2

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• The vast majority of Russia’s population were agriculturists. About 85 per cent of Russian empires population earned their living from Agriculture. This proportion was higher than in most European countries. In France and Germany, the proportion was between 40 per cent and 50 per cent. Cultivators produced for the market as well as for their own needs and Russia was a major exporter of grain.