Answer:
Main causes were:
(i)
Autocratic rule of Tsars: In 1914, the Russian emperor was Tsar Nicholas II. He
fought a number of wars to expand his empire in the north and west in Europe.
He has borne the expenditure of war by taxing the common people of Russia.
(ii)
Conditions of peasants: Majority of the Russians were agriculturalists. Major
part of the land was owned by nobles and clergy and these peasants worked as
farmers on daily wages. They were paid less and worked more and sometimes under
debt, they were not even paid wages.
(iii)
Status of industries: Industry was found in pockets. Prominent industrial areas
were St. Petersburg and Moscow. Craftsmen undertook much of the production, but
large factories existed alongside crafts workshops. Foreign investment in
industries increased with the extension of Russia's railway network.
(iv)
Conditions of workers in the industries: Most industries were owned by private industrialists.
Though the government supervised factories' working hours and wages of the
workers, but still rules were broken. Women workers were also paid less than
men. Some workers formed associations to help members in times of unemployment
and financial hardships.
(v)
Formation of socialist parties: All political parties were illegal in Russia
before 1914. The Russian Social Democratic Workers Party was founded in 1898 by
socialists, who respected Marxist ideas. But because of government policies, it
had to operate secretly as an illegal organisation. It set up a newspaper,
mobilized workers and organised strikes.
You need to login to perform this action.
You will be redirected in
3 sec
