Workers + Peasants - 1894-1914

• Workers and peasants faced great upheaval that started to break up the way society had been for hundreds of years.

  • Life had been centred around the village but legal and economic ties to the village started to weaken and in some cases, break.
• Although emancipation had not immediately changed people's lives, it did start a process for some leaving the villages.

  • As industry grew and redemption payments ended, the flow of people to the towns and cities grew.
  • Although many tried to hold on to the village once in these new surroundings, new identities and social groups would slowly develop.
  • The new industrial workers were the target of political groups who wanted radical change and the poor conditions meant many were willing to listen.
• It must be noted however that most peasants stayed in their villages and saw little change in their way of life or standard of living.