Problems facing Nicholas II

Weaknesses of Nicholas II as Tsar.

Nicholas II was a great family man, but not that great of a ruler.

• He lacked the drive and imagination of his predecessors.
• Dismissed able ministers
• Encouraged unhealthy rivlary within his own cabinet
• Insisted on seeing ministers exclusively one-on-one (lack of communication)
• Wasn't comfortable outside military situations
• Appointed family members and friends as ministers (corrupt)
• Easily influenced, esp. by Rasputin
• Avoided important decisions
• Preferred a quiet, family life. Even he admitted he knew "nothing of the business of ruling"
• Thought he had a god-given right to be an autocrat, and refused any requests for reform.
• Blind to the negative effects of his policies

Witte and industrial growth.

• Wanted to give new strength to autocracy through reform
• Encouraged foreign investment in industry to bring in capital
• Wanted industrialisation, which he believed would strengthen Russia
• High tariffs on imported materials created a secure market
• Protective tariffs for Russian industries
• Put Russia on the Gold Standard to increase foreign trust
• Wanted railways built so goods could be transported

His policies were largely successful. They provided an 8% growth rate between 1890 and 1900. Industry began to expand rapidly, and so did railways. By 1913, Russia had the world's second largest railway network. In addition, the work day was limited to 11.5 hours in 1896, and children under 12 were banned from being employed in 1892. Factory inspectors were also introduced in 1903.

However, there were also some downfalls. The limit on working hours was largely ignored, and rapid industrialisation led to overcrowding, poor living conditions, poor sanitation and food shortages as more and more people moved to industrialised cities. 90% of coal and metal industry relied on foreign investment, and despite the industrial growth, Russia still remained far behind countries such as Germany in the USA. Workers began to be paid in goods instead of money, which was illegal, and the number of strikes was increasing.

Problems facing Nicholas II including the discontent of the peasants, town workers and subject nationalities (ethnic minorities).

• Russia was huge and therefore very difficult to govern
• Peasants made up 80% of the population. There were frequent disturbances, often put down by force. This caused a lot of discontent.
• Town workers were growing frustrated with the conditions: they were poorly paid, barely fed, forced to work long hours, mistreated by employers, and lived in small, cramped areas with poor sanitation. There were no regulations on child labor, and they could work anywhere between 12 and 25 hours.
• Ethnic minorities made up the majority of the population - only a small percentage of people actually considered themselves Russian. This led to a lot of divisions and discontent. These minorities tended to hate Russian ways because of how they were forced on them through Russification.
• Peasants lived in atrocious conditions. They were malnourished, had tiny houses and starvation/famine was common. They had small plots of land, which were farmed with old and outdated tools. Families often had to share strips of land between them. To make the matter worse, not all of the land was actually good for farming, and the aristocracy typically got the best plots. They were mostly illiterate and lacked the most basic education.
• There was also a formation of a middle class at this point. They were pushing for democratic change, and as a result, opposition groups formed. However, the Tsar banned any form of opposition or movement. People had no legitimate way of expressing their opinions or protesting.
• This was also why the Social Democrats (founded 1 march 1898) were able to form. They thought violence should be used as a means of changing the way Russia was governed. They were responsible for various assasinations, including that of members of the Okhrana (secret police), spies, and government officials. They got widespread support, especially from the peasantry, and later split into two groups. The bolsheviks and the mensheviks.