Question

What were the social economic and political conditions of Russia before 1905

Answer 1

The Social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905 was backward:
1. 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.
2. 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 strike This 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.
3. 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

⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ $\huge{\tt{\red{❥}\green{A}\purple{N}\pink{S}\blue{W}\orange{E}\red{R}}}$At the beginning of the 20th century about 85% of the Russia’s population was agriculturists.

Russia was a major exporter of grains. Industry was found in pockets only. Most industries

were run by the private industrialists. Because of wide spread corruption and exploitations,

sometimes workers did not get even the minimum wages and also there was no limit of working

hours. Russia was an autocracy and was ruled by the Tsar. The Tsar, especially Tsar Nicholas

II was a self-willed, corrupt, oppressive ruler. He ignored public welfare as a result of which

the conditions of the peasants and workers had also become very deplorable. The workers and

peasants both were divided. Peasants frequently refused to pay rent and even murdered

landlords. Being influenced by the democratic experiments by the Western European countries,

the Russians also demanded a responsible government but all their demands were turned down.

Consequently, even the moderate reformers began to talk of revolutions.

During the rule of Tsar Nicholas II the privileged had got special rights while the general public

including the workers and farmers had no say in the government. The situation had become so

explosive that even the liberals campaigned to end this state of affairs. 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........^^!