SOCIAL SENTIMENTS OF PEASANTS OF SIMBIRSK PROVINCE IN THE EARLY PERIOD OF THE WORLD WAR I (sociological analysis of correspondent information)

DOI: 10.47026/1810-1909-2025-1-123-130

УДК 811.111’367/37

ББК 123.34

Aleksey N. RUKHLIN

Key words

World War I, patriotism, public opinion, Simbirsk governorate, peasants, mass media.

Abstract

Russia’s entry into the World War I caused an upsurge of patriotism in the country. However, from the very beginning of the conflict, the government monitored the mood of its subjects, including the villagers. Peasants were the largest class in the Russian Empire; they formed the basis of the army and supplied bread to the front. In this regard, tracking public sentiments became the most important task of the state. At the request of the local authorities, correspondents interviewed the residents of uyezds, after which they compiled a detailed analysis of their attitudes towards the war, the power, etc. The sentiments of Simbirsk governorate peasants reflected the general patriotic impulse of 1914.

The purpose of the study is to study the social attitudes of peasants of Simbirsk governorate in the early period of the World War I according to the reports of correspondents.

Materials and methods. The article used archival materials recorded by correspondents who worked with the rural population. The correspondents were local government officials and priests (I. Berezin, I. Khokhlov, V. Anoshin, etc.). The research used historical and general scientific methods, as well as the sociological method of content analysis of correspondent information about the sentiments of rural population in uyezds and volosts of Simbirsk governorate in the first year of the war.

Research results. At the turn of the XIX–ХХ centuries, agriculture, animal husbandry, and various handicrafts were widespread in Simbirsk governorate. There was low literacy in the governorate, and the Orthodox clergy had a noticeable influence on the population. It follows from the correspondents’ reports that the peasants adhered to patriotic, traditional views. Despite the hardships, the uyezds of the governorate remained calm and provided every possible support to the government. Discontent was expressed only because of the German attack. The difficult and often distressing situation of the peasants did not form a defeatist mood. Correspondents recorded an active support of families and orphaned children by local residents, which caused the peasants to feel a sense of engagement in the Great War. Correspondent reports noted a significant role of the periodical press in shaping public sentiments.

Conclusions. The rural population of Simbirsk governorate was loyal to the government and the outbreak of war, due to a number of factors: the influence of pro-government media, rumors and the opinion of the intelligentsia. Maintaining patriotic sentiments in Simbirsk governorate, which was a rear area, was a priority for the government. These materials clearly illustrate a high degree of politicization of the rural population of Simbirsk governorate in 1914.

References

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Information about the author

Aleksey N. Rukhlin – Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of Economics and Public Administration, Ulyanovsk Branch of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Russia, Ulyanovsk (Ruhlenko15@mail.ru).

For citations

Rukhlin A.N. Social sentiments of peasants of Simbirsk province in the early period of the World War I (sociological analysis of correspondent information). Vestnik Chuvashskogo universiteta, 2025, no. 1, pp. 123–130. DOI: 10.47026/1810-1909-2025-1-123-130 (in Russian).

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