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Sergei Witte's Land Reforms (Limitations (only a small population were…
Sergei Witte's Land Reforms
Indicators of Backwardness
agriculture was ineffective and backwards
peasants used medieval tools
land was organised in a poor, old fashioned manner
the mir prevented agricultural innovation and there was no significant investment into agricultural technology
Russia was way behind other powers in terms of food production
low industrial output
started to increase during the reigns of Alexander II and III - but still at a low level in comparison to other powers
Vyshnegradsky
poor communications and transport system
1860, Russia had 1,600 km of railway; Britain had 15,000 km (for a much smaller nation
transportation of raw materials, food ad goods was slow and almost impossible
Sergei Witte
a Russian nobleman of Dutch origin
Minister of Finance from 1892-1903
did great things for the economy
believed that the key to Russia's strength relied on rapid industrialisation
planned to invest in Russia's industry with a four-fold plan. This would include:
protective tariffs on foreign goods to protect against competition from Europe
attraction of foreign capital through loans (especially the French)
placing currency on the Gold Standard to encourage further foreign investment
squeezing resources out of the peasantry and workers
low wages, high taxes and exportation of the surplus grain
Successes
rapid increase in foreign loans
200 million roubles (1980) to 900 million (1900)
developed the heavy industries
impressive in industrial outputs
400% increase between 1890-1910
development of railways
700 km (1890) to 60,000 km (1905)
Trans-Siberian Railway built (9,600 km)
Moscow to Vladivostok finished in 1904
Limitations
still far behind EU rivals
railway coverage still small (in relation to size of Russia)
dependence on French loans
(20% of annual government expenditure went towards repaying this)
squeezing peasants led to starvation during bad harvests (1900-1902)
increase in peasant uprisings
only a small population were employed as industrial workers
2% in 1900
low wages
long hours
poor living conditions
this led to calls for better working rights
Overall
policies strengthened Russia leading up to WWI
tensions increased