What were the social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905?

The Social, Economic and Political Conditions in Russia before 1905

Political Conditions:

Russia at the time of the revolution was under the autocratic rule of Tsar Nicholas II who believed in the Divine Right of Kings. A system of governance unsuited to needs of modern times.

The Russian empire was vast and feudal. The bureaucracy was top heavy, inefficient and recruited from the privileged classes rather than on the basis of merit and ability. The Russian Tsars had built a vast empire by conquest of various nationalities. They were subjected to Russian culture and languages. The Tsar showed little concern to their sensitivity.

Social Conditions:

Russia before 1905 was still living in the old world, under the autocratic rule of the Tsar. Russian society was divided into three classes-the clergy, nobility and the working class. ,

Serfdom was abolished in 1861, but the peasants continued to live in misery.

(i) For small holdings peasants had to pay heavy redemption dues.

(ii) Vast estates were owned by the Russian nobility and the church.

(iii)Land hunger of the peasants was a major social factor in Russian Society.

The last quarter of the 19th century saw the growth and spread of socialist ideas and groups in the countryside and among the workers. They played a vital role in the spread of awareness and struggled for workers and peasants rights. The social scene in Russia before 1905 was riddled with inherent tensions. There was lack of interplay between state and society.

Economic Conditions:

Industrialisation brought a new class the industrial worker, who lived in conditions of misery. Workers had no political rights and no means of gaining even minor reforms. Work hours were long, wages were poor and unemployment common.

The middle class and intellectuals were also opposed and united against the exploitative system based on privileges.

The state exchequer was bankrupt, due to the spendthrift ways of the Tsar, expensive wars, burden of the bureaucracy and maintaining a large army. The privileged classes, clergy and nobility who could afford were exempt from taxes while the poor peasantry and working class were burdened with taxes. Industry in Russia developed largely due to foreign investment. Foreign investors were only interested in quick profits at the expense of workers.

Russia’s defeat in the 1905 Russo-Japanese war brought all the summary discontentment of the people to the fore.