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Growth in Revolutionary Ideas in Russia Btwn 1900 and 1914

In: Historical Events

Submitted By Zalman98
Words 638
Pages 3
Use Source B and Source E and your own knowledge to assess why there was a growth in revolutionary ideas in Russia between 1900 and 1914. Write between 400 and 600 words. (10 marks)
The growth in revolutionary ideas in Russia between 1900 and 1914 was primarily underpinned by economic and social problems and the nation’s lack of confidence in the Tsar to improve their present living standards. Political discontent against Tsar Nicholas II (‘Tsar’) was founded on growing unrest amongst the Russian people, who believed that change was happening too slowly and a new form of leadership was needed for Russia to progress and for the people to achieve a better way of life.
The main underlying ‘economic’ problems facing Russia between 1900 and 1914 which heightened political discontent were threefold. Firstly, as evidenced in Source B, Russia significantly lagged behind the US and other European nations as a developing industrialised nation. A lack of infrastructure and development is highlighted where Russia represents only 3% of world machinery production and 2% of electricity production. At this time, most workers were earning extremely low wages in return for labouring long hours at factories and mines, whilst neighbouring European nations were industrially moving ahead, as seen in Source B where national income for Russia is 5 times less than Great Britain. Secondly, agricultural overproduction also meant that the quality of exports diminished and there was an oversupply of bad crops from 1901-1905, further impacting on workers’ wages and loss of farm jobs. Finally, the growing gap between rich and poor highlighted the inequity in wealth distribution, as 1% of the population (being the Tsar and nobility) accounted for 80% of the nation’s wealth, further fuelling economic problems and political discontent.
Between 1900 and 1914, significant ‘social’ problems also

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