Question

Describe the condition of Russian workers on the eve of the Russian Revolution in 1917.

Answer 1

Hint: Beginning with the overthrow of the monarchy in 1917 and ending in 1923 with the Bolshevik creation of the Soviet Union at the end of the Civil War, the Russian Revolution was a time of political and social revolution across the Russian Empire's territory. It all started with the February Revolution, which took place in and around Petrograd, Russia's capital at the time.

Complete answer:
After the Russian revolution in 1917, and as the First World War was drawing to a close, there were a few tumultuous activities. Aside from soldiers and the army, Russian country farmers fought in the battle, and their families were left to starve. Following the deaths of hundreds of people at the hands of the Czarist state leaders, almost 30,000 workers in Moscow went on strike.

There was a drought, and the Worker's Organization went through a state of extreme persecution as people went hungry. Farmers were unable to export their goods and sell their produce at open markets in their communities. The railway system was disrupted, and goods were unable to enter or leave the cities.

The majority of the industry was owned by industrialists. Large factories were regulated by the government to ensure minimum wages and work hours. Factory inspectors, on the other hand, we’re unable to deter law violations. In craft units and small workshops, the working day could last up to 15 hours, compared to 10 to 12 hours in factories. In Russia, workers were classified according to their abilities.

Since their profession required more training and expertise, metal workers considered themselves aristocrats among workers. They became more organised, and they were quicker to join unions and strike for fair working conditions and the reinstatement of coworkers. While women made up 31% of the workforce, they were paid less than men.

Note: Workers were a socially segregated community. Some had close links to the villages they came from. Others had made their homes in villages. Workers were divided into groups based on their abilities. Some employees organised groups to assist one another in times of unemployment or financial difficulty, but these groups were small.