Social, Economic, and Political Conditions in Russia before 1905

Social Conditions:
- Class Structure: Russian society was divided into a rigid class structure. The nobility, comprising less than 1% of the population, held immense wealth and privileges, while the majority of the population consisted of peasants and urban workers who faced significant poverty and oppression.
- Peasantry: Peasants constituted the largest social group and were bound to the land as serfs until their emancipation in 1861. However, they still faced numerous restrictions and heavy taxation, which contributed to their impoverished conditions.
- Industrial Working Class: The rapid industrialization in Russia led to the emergence of a working class concentrated in urban areas. These workers endured harsh working conditions, long hours, low wages, and lacked basic labor rights.
- Education and Censorship: Education was limited to the upper classes, while the majority of the population remained illiterate. Censorship was prevalent, restricting freedom of speech and limiting access to information.

Economic Conditions:
- Agriculture: Agriculture was the primary economic sector, with the majority of the population engaged in farming. However, outdated farming techniques and a lack of modernization hindered productivity.
- Industrialization: Russia experienced rapid industrial growth in the late 19th century, particularly in sectors such as textiles, mining, and railroads. However, industrialization was largely concentrated in urban areas, leading to stark economic disparities between rural and urban regions.
- Foreign Investment: The Russian government actively sought foreign investment to support industrialization, leading to the establishment of foreign-owned industries. This further widened the wealth gap between wealthy foreign capitalists and the impoverished Russian workers.

Political Conditions:
- Autocracy: Russia was an autocratic state under the rule of Tsar Nicholas II. The tsar held absolute power, with no elected legislative body and minimal political representation for the general population.
- Oppressive Rule: The government employed a secret police force, the Okhrana, to suppress dissent and maintain control. Political opponents, revolutionaries, and critics of the regime were often subjected to persecution, imprisonment, or exile.
- Limited Reforms: Despite growing social and economic tensions, the government implemented limited reforms, such as the creation of zemstvos (local elected councils) and the introduction of limited industrial labor legislation. However, these reforms were insufficient to address the deep-rooted problems within Russian society.

Conclusion:
The social, economic, and political conditions in Russia before 1905 were characterized by a rigid class structure, widespread poverty and oppression, limited political representation, and a growing discontent among the population. These factors laid the groundwork for the revolutionary events that unfolded in 1905 and ultimately culminated in the Russian Revolution of 1917.