The French Revolution and Napoleon's invasion of 1812 produced a
backlash in Russia against industrialization. Russians remained fascinated with
Western developments in politics, science, and culture. In economic terms,
Russia fell behind the West because it failed to industrialize while other
nations pushed ahead. Russia’s industrial revolution was later than most because
the agricultural techniques used in the mid-1800s had not changed since the
medieval period. Without a strong agricultural foundation, industrialization was nearly impossible. The coal, oil, iron, and textile industries boomed once German and French backers began to
invest in them. When Sergei Witte became the Minister of Finance in 1897, Russia saw growth in industry and
economy. Much of this growth was due to the expansion of railroads all over Russia. A railway system was created in 1870, and it reached the Pacific in the 1880s. New railways stimulated the
iron and coal resources, as well as the export of grain to the West. They also
opened Siberia to development and increased Russian involvement in Asia.
Factories appeared in Russian cities by the 1880s, and the government quickly
acted to protect them from foreign competition. Under Count Witte (1892-1903),
the government passed high tariffs, improved the banking system, and encouraged
Western investment. Its world rank was due to its great size and rich
resources, not its technology or trained workforce. Despite all the reform,
Russia remained a traditional peasant society.
backlash in Russia against industrialization. Russians remained fascinated with
Western developments in politics, science, and culture. In economic terms,
Russia fell behind the West because it failed to industrialize while other
nations pushed ahead. Russia’s industrial revolution was later than most because
the agricultural techniques used in the mid-1800s had not changed since the
medieval period. Without a strong agricultural foundation, industrialization was nearly impossible. The coal, oil, iron, and textile industries boomed once German and French backers began to
invest in them. When Sergei Witte became the Minister of Finance in 1897, Russia saw growth in industry and
economy. Much of this growth was due to the expansion of railroads all over Russia. A railway system was created in 1870, and it reached the Pacific in the 1880s. New railways stimulated the
iron and coal resources, as well as the export of grain to the West. They also
opened Siberia to development and increased Russian involvement in Asia.
Factories appeared in Russian cities by the 1880s, and the government quickly
acted to protect them from foreign competition. Under Count Witte (1892-1903),
the government passed high tariffs, improved the banking system, and encouraged
Western investment. Its world rank was due to its great size and rich
resources, not its technology or trained workforce. Despite all the reform,
Russia remained a traditional peasant society.