What does this picture tell us about Russian

What does this picture tell us about Russian society?

Imperial Russia: Russian Society

Learning Intention By the end of this lesson you should be able to explain how Russian society was divided and the potential problems this could have for the Tsar Success Criteria • Participate in class discussion • Answer questions in your jotter in full sentences

Russia had very clear social divisions It resulted in a backward society which had made none of the progress that the rest of Europe had made Unless you were in the small, rich noble class you had very few rights and support from the government

The Nobility was the top class of people in Russia Their wealth was based on the land they owned and the peasants that worked that land They made up less than 2% of the population but owned 25% of the land in the Empire They supported the Tsar and feared change

A new rich but not as powerful class was starting to appear in 1900 called the Capitalists This class was made up of bankers and factory owners who became rich from the profits of the growth of industry in Russia They did little to improve the conditions that their workers lived and worked

A very small middle class began to appear It was made up of lawyers, doctors and teachers who were educated and lived comfortable but not luxurious lives This group knew about Western ideas of democracy and could potential be a threat to the status quo

The Peasant class made up the most of Russia’s population Until 1861 peasants had been Serfs, owned by the nobility with no rights and forced to work the land Now they were free, they still worked the land for the nobility but were given a small piece of land to farm to sustain their family This little piece of land came from the Mir and had to be paid for over 49 years before they owned it

Some peasants left the country and moved to the cities to work in the factories making a new working class Life in the cities was just as hard as hours were long and living conditions unhygienic and crowded Overcrowding, low pay, accidents at work, 12 hour shifts, poor and cheap diet Trade Unions and striking was illegal making it impossible to negotiate better conditions But living and working closely together allowed ideas and suggestions of rebelling to spread

Copy this summary into your jotter under the heading, “Imperial Russia: Russian Society” • Nobility own 25% of land but make up only 2% of population • Capitalists bankers and factory owners who get rich from the industry but do little to help the workers • Middle class educated doctors, lawyers and teachers who are aware of western political ideas • Peasants work the land live in poverty as often cannot sustain their family on their small patch of land • Working class work in the factories for long hours for low pay and live in miserable, unhygienic and cramped conditions

Complete the questions on your worksheet in your jotter Answer in full sentences!