How Successful Were The Russian Governments In Promoting Economic Change And Modernisation Between 1881 and 1904? When Alexander III came into power, he made sure that industrialization was at the forefront of his plans. So under Vyshnedgradsky and Witte, various measures were imposed to help kick start industrialization, which led to significant economic change The improved transport system, which resulted from government investment in infrastructure like the railways, helped to vastly improve Russia’s economic situation. This is evident through the clear positive correlation between railway improvements and increases in Russia’s industrial output. The length of railway tracks in Russia increased form 31219 miles in 1891 to 58392 miles by 1904.
Witte believed the only way to modernise Russia and play catch-up with the West was through State Capitalism (control of the economy by the government). The country needed to raise capital for investment in industry, which he did in several interlinking ways: large foreign loans which brought money into the country; heavy tax and interest rates in Russia which brought more money for the government. While bringing money into the country, Witte protected the small developing industries of Russia by limiting imports (but risked other countries doing the same to Russian goods in retaliation) In 1897, he put Russian currency on Gold Standard. This created financial stability and in turn encouraged huge foreign investment in Russia. Conversely, the higher-value rouble helped increase the prices of goods.
Aware of the extra-money available to working families, the different pieces of a Big Business have acted in such a way to suck that extra-money from the poor families. Accordingly, railroads raised their prices on food suppliers; Standard Oil increased their fuel prices. In addition large grocery and department stores have added a greater price to their goods as well. As a result, the cost of living from 1870-1900 stayed approximately constant despite decreasing food and fuel prices. For the great majority of Americans, their standard of living remained the same, or even declined in response to the rise of tenement housing and an influx of immigrant workers.
How far do you agree that Sergei Witte’s policies were successful in modernising the Russian economy in 1892-1904? During Tsar Nicholas II’s reign, he decided he needed someone to improve the Russian economy, so he appointed a Financial Minister; Sergei Witte. Witte introduced a number of reforms that both improved and further damaged Russia’s economy, and believed that the only way Russia could modernise itself and catch up with the more industrialised West was through State Capitalism. Witte was very enthusiastic about the expansion on the Trans-Siberian railway, which, when completed, stretched across Russia from St. Petersburg in the West to Vladivostok in the Far East. Witte believed that the construction of this railway was crucial to the economic growth of Russia, because it would make it possible to take advantage of the economic potential of Siberia.
Evidently, Industries like coal steel and iron grew enormously. For instance Coal production in 1928 prior to the five year plan was 36million tonnes, and in 1932 it was 65 million tonnes. Furthermore, Magnitogorsk which was constructed during the first five year plan aided the trebling of steel production during the second year plan. However, the production of crude oil only rose marginally, from 29 million tonnes in 1037 to 31 million tonnes in 1940. Additionally the production of steel stagnated.
It is apparent that he achieved this as 50% of peasants owned their own land by 1915 due to the introduction of the Peasant Land Bank on 15th November 1906. Also, agricultural output rose by 20 million tonnes between the years 1906-1913 meaning that Stolypin’s agricultural policies made a significant difference. Therefore, this suggests that Russia had moved in the direction of economic reform as this is all evidence towards an improvement in Russian economy between the years 1906 and 1914. Stolypin directly targeted the economy as a way to improve the Tsarist position as he believed that a more stable peasantry would lead to a more stable Russia. Consequently, it is accurate to say that Russia had moved in a large way towards economic reform in the years 1906-1914.
To what extent did economic developments in Germany in the period 1900-1914 pose a threat to the power of the elites? For Germany, the years leading up to the First World War were filled with extreme levels of progress. A lot of their main industries thrived such as the coal, iron, steel and chemical industry. The urbanisation of Germany stimulated a population boom and changed the structure of German society. The rapid growth of old and new industries led to a population migration from rural to urban areas.
This city was known as Peter’s “window to the west” because it opened up many trading routes with other countries. Peter “The Great” died in St. Petersburg in 1725. He is buried at the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Peter “The Great” is the most responsible monarch for “westernizing” Russia. He made several different reforms to give more power to the central government and the Tsar, he promoted military, and he improved the Russian economy.
The industrial revolution has helped the nation and economy grown so much over the time but we know, nothing is perfect. With large factories come environmental hazards and with large buildings come migration issues for all animals. Over the years, we have learned that maybe we took too much too fast. The importance of the industrial revolution is endless. But looking back on it today, the world seems to be at a much quicker less wasteful speed.
For example, of the four main parts of heavy industry; Coal, Iron, Steel and Oil, only the targets for oil production were met and exceeded by 1932. However, the economy grew by 14% every year and the rest of heavy industry did grow, Iron went from an annual production of 3.3 million tonnes in 1928 to 6.2 million in 1932. The second plan (1933-38) was a more conservative version of the first, with a larger focus on consumer goods. However, these were superseded towards the end of the plan with a focus on military equipment and production, as Stalin was predicting a war with Nazi Germany. Transport and electricity output was expanded to help meet the growing demand of industrialisation.