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[[File: 1106px-Family Nicholas II of Russia ca. 1914.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Tsar Nicholas II and his Family 1913]]The Russian Romanov dynasty collapsed in the chaos of the Russian Revolution of 1917 was . The rise of the Soviet Union from the Romanovs' ashes is perhaps the most important event in the twentieth century. It saw the world’s first Communist government , and it led to a wave of communist -inspired revolutions around the world and , ultimately , the Cold War. The Revolution is often shown to be inevitable because of the unequal nature of Russian society and its undemocratic political system. However, the Russian Revolution was not unavoidable and directly resulted from the impact of the First World War on Russia. ==At the turn of the 20th Century how was Russia changing? ==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 God had appointed him to the throne.<ref>Figes, 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 Russian Revolution: 1891-1924]''(Pimlico, 1996), p. 23</ref> The Tsarist government repressed any signs of organized dissent, and as a direct 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 urbanized. 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 any way. 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 just out of self-interest. ==What was the 1905 Revolution in Russia?==[[File:The_Russian_Revolution,_1905_Q81553.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Barricades manned by workers of Schmidt factory in Moscow, Dec. 1905]] impact 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). ''[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 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 defeat 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 Duma. This parliament then limited his powers.<ref>Figes, p. 65</ref> This managed to appease the revolutionaries, and order and calm were 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 some ‘real and positive changes.<ref>Lincoln, W. Bruce. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0671557092/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0671557092&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=500d3127c72c2c8c8d421483668da68a 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, the First Bolshevik Party of Communists in Switzerland. ==How did World War on I fundamentally change Russia?==[[File:1200px-Russian_Troops_NGM-v31-p372.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|Russian troops moving to the front lines in 1917]]In 1913, there were lavish public celebrations of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty’s rule in Russia. The Tsar used the anniversary to demonstrate that God appointed him to rule ‘all the Russia’s.<ref>Figes, p. 117.</ref> That year, the Tsar and his family were very popular, and it seemed to the revolutionaries that there would never be a revolution. However, after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, Europe was plunged into war. Russia was allied with France and Britain against Germany, Austro-Hungary, and Turkey. Russiainvaded Prussia in 1914, but after some initial success, was defeated. It also fought campaigns against the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires.

==Back Ground==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 People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution: 1891dh-1924''.(Pimlico, 1996), p. 23<ad/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.

==1905 Revolution==[[File:The_Russian_Revolution,_1905_Q81553.jpg|thumbnail|300px|Barricades manned by workers of Schmidt factory The war on the Eastern Front became bogged down in Moscow, Dectrench warfare. 1905]] There was widespread discontent in the Russian Empire. Since the 1890sRussia endured hefty casualties, various terrorist organizations had waged and it placed a violent campaign against the Tsar’s regimegreat strain on its resources. There were many radical political parties active in the countryFood supplies became scarce, including the Bolshevik partyand poverty spread across Russia. <ref>WoodEssentially, Alan (1993)the lives of most Russians became intolerable. ''The 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 Tsarist government became very unpopular. Immediately, those who were unhappy with A scandal also made the existing system began to agitate for changeTsar and his family hated by many. When Cossacks violently broke up a demonstration in St PetersburgA Siberian holy man called Rasputin, gained great influence with many deaths, the country saw widespread revolts. The Tsar faced losing power and made significant concessions his family, as he claimed to have the ability to secure his positionheal the crown prince’s hemophilia. He granted a constitution This brought him ‘immense power and allowed for the creation of an elected Parliament the Dumaprestige at Court, all of which limited his powers’ but it scandalized many.<ref>Figes, p. 6531.</ref> This managed to placate the revolutionaries and order and calm was restored. The Tsar promised reformsBy 1917, including land reform and vowed to respect the constitution. In the years following Nicholas II failed to implement meaningful reforms, although there Russian people were some ‘real and positive changes.<ref>Lincolnwar-weary, W. Bruce. ''Passage Through Armageddon: The Russians in War and Revolution, 1914–1918''. (New York, 1986), pstrikes became very common. 4.</ref> The economy improved after 1905 and the Tsar began refused to win back some support. However, radicals were unhappy enter into peace negotiations with the situation and plotted revolution, either in Russia or in exileCentral Powers, such as Lenin, leader of despite several defeats on the Bolshevik Party of Communists in SwitzerlandEastern Front and ordinary people's suffering.

==World War IWhat was the Russian Revolution of 1917?==[[File:1200px-Russian_Troops_NGM-v31-p37219170704_Riot_on_Nevsky_prosp_Petrograd.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Troops open fire on Russian troops moving to the front lines protesters in 1917.]]In 1913 there were lavish public celebrations of By February 1917, the situation was unbearable for the 300th anniversary average Russian soldier and citizens. A series of the Romanov Dynasty’s rule strikes were staged in RussiaSt. The Petersburg, and the Tsar used ordered the anniversary army to demonstrate that he was appointed by God break the strikes. Instead, the army mutinied and began to rule ‘all fraternize with the Russia’sstrikers.<ref>Figes, pRobert Service (2005). ''[https://www. 117amazon.<com/gp/product/067401801X/ref> That year the Tsar and his family were very popular and it seemed to the revolutionaries that there would never be a revolution. However, after the assassination =as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=067401801X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=1f1aedc66cb1d26dbbb2b33138bcf078 A history of the Archduke Ferdinand, Europe was plunged into war. modern Russia was allied with France and Britain against Germany, Austro-Hungary and Turkey. Russia invaded Prussia in 1914, but after some initial success was defeated. It also fought campaigns against the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empirefrom Nicholas II to Vladimir Putin]''. Harvard University Press</ref> The war on the Eastern Front became bogged down in trench warfare. Russia endured very heavy casualties and it placed a great strain on its resources. Poverty increased and food supplies became scarcer and the lives authority of many ordinary people became intolerable. The Tsarist government became very unpopular. A scandal also made the Tsar ebbed away, and his family hated by manyhe was forced to abdicate. A Siberian holy man, called Rasputin gained great influence with the Tsar and his family, as he Provisional Government that claimed to have represent the ability to heal workers and the crown prince’s haemophiliapeasants took power. This brought him ‘immense power and prestige at Court’ but it scandalized manybecame known as the October Revolution.<ref>Figes, Malone, Richard (2004). ''Analyzing the Russian Revolution''. Australia: Cambridge University Press. p. 3167.</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 the suffering of the ordinary people.

==February However, following the Tsarist government's collapse, many local committees are known as Soviets and October Revolutions 1917==[[File:19170704_Riot_on_Nevsky_prosp_Petrogradtook power all over Russia.jpg|thumbnail|300px|Troops open fire on Russian protesters in 1917.]] By February 1917 They often refused to recognize the situation was unbearable for authority of the average Russian soldier and citizensProvisional Government. A series Many of strikes the Soviets were staged in Stdominated by the Bolsheviks or Communists loyal to their exiled leader Lenin. Petersburg and The Provisional government wanted to continue with the war, which made it very unpopular with many, especially the Tsar ordered Soviets. Radical groups like the army Bolsheviks stated that they wanted to bring an end to break the strikeswar. Instead They also made themselves very popular by promising food to the army mutinied people and began to fraternize with the strikersredistribution of land.<ref>Robert Service (2005). ''A history of modern Russia from Nicholas II to Vladimir Putin''Their slogan was ‘Peace and Bread. Harvard University Press</ref> ’ The authority Provisional Government was fast losing control of the Tsar simply ebbed away situation. Russian soldiers began deserting, and he the army was forced close to abdicatedefeat. A However, the leader of the Provisional Government that claimed , Alexander Kerensky, refused to represent the workers and the peasants took powercompromise. This became known as the October Revolution.<ref>Malone, Richard (2004). ''Analyzing the Russian Revolution''. Australia: Cambridge University Press. p. 67was to prove fatal.</ref>

However, following the collapse in the Tsarist government many local committees Lenin organized his Bolshevik forces and decided to stage a revolt that would seize Petrograd's power (formerly known as Soviets, took power all over RussiaSt Petersburg). They often refused to recognize On the authority night of October, they seized the Winter Palace and ousted the Provisional Government. Many of the Soviets were dominated by The event became known as the Bolsheviks or Communists who were loyal to their exiled leader LeninOctober Revolution. The Provisional government wanted to continue with next day the war and this 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 world was amazed to the people and the redistribution of land. Their slogan was ‘Peace and Bread’. The Provisional Government was fast losing control hear of the situation. Russian soldiers began deserting and the army was close to defeatfirst Communist government in history. However, the leader only after a brutal civil war resulted in millions of deaths that the Provisional Government, Alexander Kerensky refused Communist were able to compromise. This was to prove fataltake full control of Russia.

Lenin organised his Bolshevik forces ==Why was the Romanov family overthrown? ==Many factors caused the Russian Revolution. The autocratic Tsarist regime was unwilling to change with their society. The Regime's repressive policies and decided to stage a revolt that would seize power in Petrograd (formerly known as St Petersburg)scandals further undermined its legitimacy. However, this did not make the Russian Revolution inevitable. On The catalyst for the revolution was the night of October they seized First World War. It accentuated the Winter Palace tensions in Russian society and ousted unleashed forces that the Provisional GovernmentRomanov regime could not control. The event became known as suffering people and the October Revolutioncommon soldiers grew impatient and demanded immediate change and, above all, peace. The next day failure of the world’s was amazed Tsarist regime to hear of end the first Communist government in history. However, it was only after a brutal civil war that resulted in millions the collapse of deaths that the Communist were able to take full control of RussiaRomanov Dynasty.

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