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==1905 Revolution==Background====There Russia was widespread discontent in the and is a vast and diverse country with a huge multi-ethnic population. The Russian Empire. Since the 1890swas an autocracy, various terrorist organizations had waged a violent campaign against where effectively the Tsar’s regimewill was the law. There were many radical political parties active Tsar Nicholas II ‘indulged in the countrya fantasy of absolute power, including ’ and he believed that God had appointed him to the Bolshevik partythrone. <ref>WoodFiges, Alan (1993)Orlando. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014024364X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=014024364X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=06c5bfa36690a28acda82d3d2a108211 A People's Tragedy: The Origins of the Russian Revolution, 1861: 1891-19171924]''(Pimlico, 1996), p. London: Routledge23</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 The Tsarist government became very unpopular. Immediatelyrepressed any signs of organized dissent, those who were unhappy with the existing system began to agitate for change. When Cossacks violently broke up and as a demonstration in St Petersburgresult, with there were many deaths, the country saw widespread revoltspolitical prisoners. The Tsar faced losing power and made significant concessions to secure his position. He granted a constitution and allowed for Russia was changing in the creation early years of an elected Parliament the Duma, all of which limited his powerstwentieth century.<ref>Figes, p. 65</ref> This managed to placate the revolutionaries and order and calm It was restored. The Tsar promised reformsrapidly industrializing, 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 changescountry’s economy was growing fast.<ref>Lincoln, W. Bruce. ''Passage Through Armageddon: The Russians in War and Revolution, 1914–1918''. (New York, 1986)Figes, p. 4.86</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.
==February and October Revolutions 1917==1905 Revolution====By February 1917 the situation was unbearable for the average Russian soldier and citizens[[File:The_Russian_Revolution,_1905_Q81553. A series jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Barricades manned by workers of strikes were staged Schmidt factory in StMoscow, Dec. Petersburg and 1905]] There was widespread discontent in the Tsar ordered Russian Empire. Since the army to break 1890s, various terrorist organizations had waged a violent campaign against the strikesTsar’s regime. Instead There were many radical political parties active in the army mutinied and began to fraternize with country, including the strikersBolshevik party.<ref>Robert Service Wood, Alan (20051993). ''A history [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415307341/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415307341&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c7ddf62267e62ec99e78cd6a10e4245b The Origins of modern Russia from Nicholas II to Vladimir Putinthe Russian Revolution, 1861-1917]''. Harvard University PressLondon: Routledge</ref> The authority of the Tsar simply ebbed away and he Many people believed that Russian was forced to abdicateripe for a revolution. A Provisional Government that claimed to represent In 1905 Russia was routed by the workers and the peasants took powerJapanese Empire in a brief war in North-East Asia. This became known as the October Revolution.<ref>Malonedefeat was a national humiliation, Richard (2004). ''Analyzing and the Russian Revolution''Tsar and his government became very unpopular. Australia: Cambridge University Press. p. 67.</ref>
The war on the Eastern Front became bogged down in trench warfare. Russia endured hefty casualties, and it placed a great strain on its resources. Food supplies became scarce, and poverty spread across Russia. Essentially, the lives of most Russians became intolerable. The Tsarist government became very unpopular. A scandal also made the Tsar and his family hated by many. A Siberian holy man called Rasputin, gained great influence with the Tsar and his family, as he claimed to have the ability to heal the crown prince’s hemophilia. This brought him ‘immense power and prestige at Court,’ but it scandalized many.<ref>Figes, p. 31.</ref> By 1917, the Russian people were war-weary, and strikes became very common. The Tsar refused to enter into peace negotiations with the Central Powers, despite several defeats on the Eastern Front and ordinary people's suffering. ====February and October Revolutions 1917====[[File:19170704_Riot_on_Nevsky_prosp_Petrograd.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Troops open fire on Russian protesters in 1917.]] 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). ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/067401801X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=067401801X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=1f1aedc66cb1d26dbbb2b33138bcf078 A history of modern Russia from Nicholas II to Vladimir Putin]''. Harvard University Press</ref> The authority of the Tsar 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). ''Analyzing the Russian Revolution''. Australia: Cambridge University Press. p. 67.</ref> However, following the Tsarist government's collapse, many local committees are known as Soviets and took power all over Russia. They often refused to recognize the authority of the Provisional Government. Many of the Soviets were dominated by the Bolsheviks or Communists loyal to their exiled leader Lenin. The Provisional government wanted to continue with the war, which made it very unpopular with many, especially the Soviets. Radical groups like the Bolsheviks stated that they wanted to bring an end to the war. They also made themselves very popular by promising food to the people and the redistribution of land. Their slogan was ‘Peace and Bread.’ The Provisional Government was fast losing control of the situation. Russian soldiers began deserting, and the army was close to defeat. However, the leader of the Provisional Government, Alexander Kerensky, refused to compromise. This was to prove fatal. Lenin organized his Bolshevik forces and decided to stage a revolt that would seize Petrograd's power (formerly known as St Petersburg). On the night of October, they seized the Winter Palace and ousted the Provisional Government. The event became known as the October Revolution. The next day the world was amazed to hear of the first Communist government in history. However, only after a brutal civil war resulted in millions of deaths that the Communist were able to take full control of Russia. ====Conclusions====Many factors caused the Russian Revolution. The autocratic Tsarist regime was unwilling to change with their society. The Regime's repressive policies and scandals further undermined its legitimacy. However, this did not make the Russian Revolution inevitable. The catalyst for the revolution was the First World War. It accentuated the tensions in Russian society and unleashed forces that the Romanov regime could not control. The suffering people and the common soldiers grew impatient and demanded immediate change and, above all, peace. The failure of the Tsarist regime to end the war resulted in the collapse of the Romanov Dynasty. <div class="portal" style="width:85%;">====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====*[[How did Vladimir Lenin Rise To Power?]]*[[Why was Germany defeated at the First Battle of the Marne (1914)]]*[[Origins of World War One - Top Ten Booklist]]*[[What was the impact of Ivan the Terrible on Russia?]]*[[Why did Germany not achieve victory at Verdun in 1916?]]</div> ====References====
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