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A small group of nobles and army officers tried to overthrow the czar's government in December 1825. They hoped to set up a constitutional monarchy. Czar Nicholas I quickly crashed the uprising, which was known as the Demcembrist Revolut. He executed five leaders and exiled hundreds more to Siberia. Even though the Decembrist's failed, they became heros to later generations and revolutionaries.
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Russian socialists tried to enlist the support of peasants in a great revolution that would end inequality and do away with private ownership of prorerty. When efforts to win popular support failed, radical groups turned to terrorism. They killed prominent officals and even assasinated the czar, Alexander II.
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The freed serfs gained a few political rigths and were allowed to keep their homes and tools. Instead of being given land, however, they had to buy it at high prices. Alexander II introduced other reforms. He relaxed censorship, encouraged the uilding of schools, and improved health care.
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The war resulted in a stunning defeat for Russia and increased economic hardships at home.
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Horrified Rissians and sparked the Revolution of 1905. Riots and strikes swept the cities. In the countryside, peasants looted and burned the homes of landowners.
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A group of people lead by Father Gapon went out into the city and marched. Father thought he saw soliders rifles glinting in the winter sun. They continued to march on. Suddenly, shots rage out! Most of the marchers died.
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When World War I broke out in 1914, Russia joined its alies, Britain and France, in fighting Germany and Austris-Hungary. As the war dragged on, Russia suffered tremendous strain. Russian industries were not developed enough ti meet the need for war supplies. Also, the transportaion system, only one out of three soliders had a rifle. Word of the terrible conditions at the front trickled back to the cities. Russians blamed the czar and his generals for disastrous defeats.
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News of the events in Petrograd quickly spread by telegraph, Throughout Russia, demonstrators overthrew czarist officials. Only a week after the Prtrograd riots began, Czar Nicholas II abdicated, or gave up the thrown.
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Angry crowds protested the war and the shortage of food. "Bread and Peace!" they shouted. When the demonstrations began to spread, the government sent troops to restore order. Many soliders refused to fire on the crowds, however. Hundreds even joined the protesters.
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