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Discontented Russians formed a number of political organizations, all of which the government tried to repress. There were four broad types of groups, with some overlapping ideals. Liberals wanted democratic checks on the power of the czars. Nationalists sought greater independence from Moscow for populations in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and elsewhere. Peasant socialists sought to start a revolution among the Russian peasants. Marxists wanted a revolution among the city and town workers. The
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the time span of russia is changing into the soviet union
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Discontented Russians formed a number of political organizations, all of which the government tried to repress. There were four broad types of groups, with some overlapping ideals. Liberals wanted democratic checks on the power of the czars.
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Reeve_and_Serfs.jpg/275px-Reeve_and_Serfs.jpg The serfs (rural slaves) were freed in 1861. However, they received little land and were heavily in debt. In the towns and cities, industrialization altered the face of Russian society.
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In the early 1900’s, Russia’s economy slowed, the country waged an unsuccessful war with Japan, and social unrest grew.
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http://www.musica-amata.co.uk/photos/Winter%20Palace/winter-palace-night.jpg On Jan. 22, 1905, thousands of men, women, and children peacefully marched to Czar Nicholas's Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, the capital. Their intention was to deliver a petition asking for better working conditions and a democratically elected assembly. The czar's soldiers fired on the demonstrators, killing or wounding hundreds of them.
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World War highlighted the weakness of czarist rule.
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The war strained the Russian economy. Shortages of food and fuel resulted, increasing the level of social discontent. Within the army, untrained soldiers became rebellious. Many Russian army units refused to go on fighting the war with Germany.
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http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/files/images/080509_tank_81034482.jpg World War I (1914-1918) highlighted the weakness of czarist rule. Germany declared war on Russia in August 1914. Soon afterward, Russia changed the German-sounding name of St. Petersburg to Petrograd. The Germans easily overwhelmed a Russian army that was poorly trained and badly led.
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http://www.alexanderpalace.org/palace/books/covers/1280062549500841.jpg Czar Nicholas and his wife were deeply influenced by the monk Grigori Rasputin. Under Rasputin's influence, Nicholas filled key posts with officials who were incompetent and unpopular. In December 1916, a group of Russian nobles loyal to the czar murdered Rasputin.
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March 8, 1917 (February 25, on the old Russian calendar), strikes and riots over food and coal shortages broke out in Petrograd. This uprising became known as the February Revolution. Troops sent to stop the uprising joined the demonstrators instead.
