Revolution



Russian Revolution

In 1917, two revolutions swept through Russia, ending centuries of imperial rule and setting in motion political and social changes that would lead to the formation of the Soviet Union. In March, growing civil unrest, coupled with chronic food shortages, erupted into open revolt, forcing the abdication of Nicholas II (1868-1918), the last Russian czar. Just months later, the newly installed provisional government was itself overthrown by the more radical Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir.

Causes of the Revolution

The revolution was the culmination of a long period of repression and unrest. From the time of Peter I (Peter the Great), the czardom increasingly became an autocratic bureaucracy that imposed its will on the people by force, with wanton disregard for human life and liberty.

The workers in the cities worked very long hours up to 14 hours a day, six days a week, for very little pay, and many lived in dormitories as house building had not kept pace with demand. The peasants could not plough, sow or bring in the harvests as the young men were off fighting in the war. And they were still heavily in debt after the emancipation of the serfs they had to buy their freedom over 50 years, and many were still serfs. The situation in the countryside caused problems in the cities they were starving, and in the army  the peasants in uniform wanted to get back to their villages to help with the farming this was especially true in the spring and autumn, the ploughing and harvest seasons.