Draft:Modernization under Nicholas II

Modernization under Nicholas II was a period of modernization and rapid economic development in the period from 1894 to 1917, expressed by one of the fastest increases in per capita GDP in the world, improved working conditions, improved living standards and an increased role of the industrial sector in the role of the economy.

Emperor Nicholas II and Grand Duke Nicholas Niikolaevich

During this period, numerous institutional changes are taking place, integration into the global economy is increasing, as well as the integration of most of the population into the domestic market, as well as the government is becoming a world leader in the state budget.

Industry

Industry in Russia began to develop under Nicholas I, but a full-fledged policy began only under Alexander II, the growth of industrialization was helped by British capitalist. By the beginning of the 20th century, Russia occupied the 4th place in the world in industrial production, and the 1st place in the field of oil refining. Areas such as steel and cast iron smelting increased 4 times, coal mining increased 8 times. Russia was in a dominant position in terms of industrial production growth, even despite the predominance of the peasant population.

Verkhneutinsky factory in Russia, 1913

The increase in industrial output was associated with an increase in the urban population, by 1914 its number was already 15% of the total population, before that less than 2,000,000 were employed in industry. This was largely due to the increase in social mobility after a series of reforms carried out between 1905 and 1911. Electrification is beginning to acquire a parallel mass character, about 6,273 power plants have been opened in the country for all time, which illuminated cities and rural areas, in 1916 about 4.7 billion kilovolts per hour were produced.

The French economist Edmond Thery concluded in 1914 about the results of the economic policy of the imperial government:

Based on the results obtained since the beginning of the 20th century, I came to the conclusion that if the same trend continues until 1950, Russia will dominate Europe economically and politically.

Agricultural development

Direct assistance to peasants

The Stolypin reform had a huge impact on the development of this sphere, which allowed peasants to create individual farms and change their place of residence. Russia occupied the first place in the production of agricultural products in Europe and the second place in the world, it was given the nickname "the breadwinner of Europe».

As a result of this reform, more than 90% of farms belonged to peasants, the government also actively provided financial assistance and introduced the so-called "Agronomic Assistance" (Russian: Агрономическая помощь) program. Its essence was the elimination of illiteracy and assistance in managing their land, as well as subsidizing Zemstva.

The peasant Sychev, who was able to become a representative in the Duma

The effects did not immediately show themselves, at first the number of agricultural listeners was small, but it grew incredibly quickly. In 1912, researcher Yurovsky concluded:

My general impression of the Mologsky District is as follows: I did not expect to notice anything like this in terms of agricultural progress here. The earth-arranging fever has already engulfed the entire mass of the population and there can be no question of any turns back to the community; One must be a deliberately unscrupulous person not to give oneself up to that joyful feeling that one experiences when going around the Smolensk hu- tors. I would send ideological opponents of land management to the Sychevsky district at the state expense to look at the farms there, and I am convinced that they would radically change their views on land management.

A bank owned by peasants

The Peasant Bank was established in 1885, but its main achievements occurred in the period from 1905 to 1917. The main activity of the bank was to supply peasants with land, it offered a loan for 90% of the price of land to a peasant, and in some cases even paid 100% .

Credit cooperation

The greatest success was achieved by private and not only cooperatives, their activities helped peasants to get involved in the country's economy and significantly improved the well-being of the population. Such rapid growth was caused primarily by the activities of agronomists and agricultural courses, the number of credit cooperatives increased 9.5 times from 1905 to 1913, and the number of commodity enterprises increased 15 times. Cooperatives were also one of the funniest areas in the village's economy, with about 96% making a net profit of 1,950 rubles. The number of loans has increased 5 times since 1905, and the number of peasant investments has increased 7 times.

Results of agricultural policy

The results of the agrarian policy are characterized as successful, there is an active development of distant frontiers, wheat production increased by 77.1%. The total grain production has almost doubled, historians characterize 1914 as the heyday of the Russian economy. in general, the export of the village increased by 3.5% per year, which was an indicator of the security of peasants during this period.

Reference and Notes

Bibliography

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