Question

In what ways was the working population in Russia different from other countries in Europe, before 1917?

Answer 1

• Peasants: About 85 percent of the population in Russian empire depended on agriculture in the beginning of the twentieth century.
• Cultivators cultivated crops for their own needs and Russia was also a major exporter of grains.
• The proportion of people dependent on agriculture Germany and France was between 40 per cent and 50 per cent.
• On a large scale in Southern Russia, in 1902, landlords were murdered, peasants refused to pay rent to the landlords and peasants wanted the land of the nobles. Such incidents spread all across Russia in 1905.
• In France, the peasants respected the Nobles and fought with them during the French Revolution.
• Periodically, the land was pooled by the Russians, and as per needs of the individual families, the commune divided it.
• Industrial Workers:
• Moscow and St Petersburg were the prominent industrial centers.
• Workers in Russia were a divided social group, which was visible through their manners and dress. They were divided based on their skills.
• Among workers, metal workers considered themselves as aristocrats.
• Although there was division among workers, they did unite to strike against employers to protest against bad working conditions.
• Such strikes occurred frequently in the Metal industry in 1902 and it was frequently seen in the textile industry during 1896-1897.