Changes

Russia was and is a vast and diverse country with a huge multi-ethnic population. The Russian Empire was an autocracy, where effectively the Tsar’s will was the law. Tsar Nicholas II ‘indulged in a fantasy of absolute power’ and he believed that he had been appointed by God to the throne.<ref>Figes, Orlando. ‘’’A ''A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution: 1891-1924’’’1924''. (Pimlico, 1996), p. 23 </ref> The Tsarist government repressed any signs of organized dissent and as a result there were many political prisoners. Russia was changing in the early years of the twentieth century. It was rapidly industrializing and the country’s economy was growing fast.<ref>Figes, p. 86</ref> A new industrial class of workers was emerging and society was becoming increasingly urbanised. However, this class was impoverished and lived and worked in appalling conditions. The majority of the population were still peasants that often worked the land for wealthy landlords and endured lives of great hardship. The industrial workers and the peasants did not benefit from the economic expansion in anyway. Russia’s economic growth did create a new middle class. However, this class was excluded from the political system and resented the Tsar’s restrictions on its political and personal freedoms. Only the aristocracy and the elite supported the Tsarist government and only out of self-interest.

There was widespread discontent in the Russian Empire. Since the 1890s, various terrorist organizations had waged a violent campaign against the Tsar’s regime. There were many radical political parties active in the country, including the Bolshevik party. <ref>Wood, Alan (1993). ''The origins Origins of the Russian Revolution, 1861-1917''. London: Routledge </ref> Many people believed that Russian was ripe for a revolution. In 1905 Russia was routed by the Japanese Empire in a brief war in North East Asia. This was a national humiliation and the Tsar and his government became very unpopular. Immediately, those who were unhappy with the existing system began to agitate for change. When Cossacks violently broke up a demonstration in St Petersburg, with many deaths, the country saw widespread revolts. The Tsar faced losing power and made significant concessions to secure his position. He granted a constitution and allowed for the creation of an elected Parliament the Duma, all of which limited his powers.<ref>Figes, p. 65</ref> This managed to placate the revolutionaries and order and calm was restored. The Tsar promised reforms, including land reform and vowed to respect the constitution. In the years following Nicholas II failed to implement meaningful reforms, although there were some ‘real and positive changes.<ref>Lincoln, W. Bruce. ''Passage Through Armageddon: The Russians in War and Revolution, 1914–1918''. (New York, 1986), p. 4.</ref> The economy improved after 1905 and the Tsar began to win back some support. However, radicals were unhappy with the situation and plotted revolution, either in Russia or in exile, such as Lenin, leader of the Bolshevik Party of Communists in Switzerland.

By February 1917 the situation was unbearable for the average Russian soldier and citizens. A series of strikes were staged in St. Petersburg and the Tsar ordered the army to break the strikes. Instead the army mutinied and began to fraternize with the strikers.<ref>Robert Service (2005). ‘’’A ''A history of modern Russia from Nicholas II to Vladimir Putin’’’Putin''. Harvard University Press</ref> The authority of the Tsar simply ebbed away and he was forced to abdicate. A Provisional Government that claimed to represent the workers and the peasants took power. This became known as the October Revolution.<ref> Malone, Richard (2004). ‘’’Analysing ''Analyzing the Russian Revolution’’’Revolution''. Australia: Cambridge University Press. p. 67.</ref>