Social Tensions before 1905 Flashcards

What were redemption payments and why did many peasants hate them?

They were yearly payments for land after 1861. They were high and kept peasants in debt for years.

What was the mir (village commune) and how did it control peasants?

It shared out land and collected taxes. It could refuse permission for peasants to leave the village.

Why was there land hunger in the countryside before 1905?

The peasant population grew fast but plots stayed small. Much good land stayed with nobles.

How did the 1891–92 famine add to unrest?

Many went hungry and many died. The slow and poor help from the state made people lose trust.

What problems did many city workers face before 1905?

Long hours, low pay, unsafe machines, and crowded, dirty places to live.

What did the 1897 factory law do?

It set a maximum working day of 11.5 hours for adults, but work was still hard and weeks were long.

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Why did strikes increase in the late 1890s and early 1900s?

Low wages, long hours, harsh rules, and rising prices pushed workers to protest.

What was Russification?

Forcing Russian language and culture on minority groups. It angered Poles, Finns, Jews, and others.

How were Jewish people treated before 1905?

Most had to live in the Pale of Settlement. They faced limits in schools and jobs and suffered pogroms.

Why were many middle-class people unhappy?

They paid taxes and ran local services, but the Tsar kept power, so they had little say.

What did the Okhrana do?

The secret police watched, arrested, and exiled critics. This spread fear and anger.

What happened in the 1902 peasant unrest?

There were riots in the south-west. Peasants attacked estates, and the army was sent in.

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