Russian Empire

The history of Russia has gone through numerous drastic phases, with the transition from an autocracy to communism, and a communist regime to a relatively democratic state, just to name a few. The tragedy that befell the last ruling Romanov family has long been blamed on the Bolsheviks, with just cause, but the demise of the Romanovs began many years prior to the Bolshevik emergence. Historical writings have shown us that interpretations and biases can overtake the writing. It causes monumental…

coming to power, were dedicated to overcoming. The Provisional Government had failed to address the land issue and because of that, “Most Russian peasants, numbering some twenty- three million, were still landless by the turn of the twentieth century, as most land remained in the hands of the rich landlords.” ("Peasants and Peasantry.") If one looks back in Russian history years prior to the revolution, it is immediately clear that the issue of land had been at the forefront of debate for…

Peter the Great’s absolutist rule can be described as energetic and ruthless. As he visited Western Europe’s early power, he began to model the Russian Empire similar to the Western technology, military reforms, and political aspects. The absolutist rule of Prussia and Austria differed between scenarios; starting in Austria and its absolutist rule between Maria Teresa and in Prussia and Frederick II of forms of the government. All-though there are many differences between the absolutism under…

1917, the world is on its heels. The Great War has been spurring on for three years, and Russia was not faring well. The leader of the Russian Empire, Tsar Nicholas II, was a ruthless leader. He suppressed political dissent, and cared not for the starving peasants that he ruled. These peasants, still sore from a massacre in 1905 which left hundreds wounded in the streets. Winds of change were high, and the political surge of communism left many workers feeling the need for revolution. The…

he also caused unrest within the Russian Elite. Nobody liked him and the many reforms he implemented undermined the stability of the communist system as far as the Soviet elites were concerned. Eventually, Brezhnev took over from Khrushchev and whilst initially, the impression was of a more stable, wiser man, unrest grew in the empire. Since 1957, Novotny, the leader of the communist party in Czechoslovakia had been very unpopular. He was a hard line communist who hadn't introduced any reforms…

began a huge Russian army was formed by forcing working class and peasant men to join. Although the Russian army had great numbers, the soldiers were not equipped or trained to fight. Many of them were sent into battle without shoes, food, and even weapons. The harsh winter conditions alongside famine, and social ruin swept through Russia and made living conditions for many…

Animal Farm explains the similarities between a children's story of an animal revolution and the Russian Revolution. The author of Animal Farm, George Orwell, used this novel to show his animosity towards the Russian communist party. Orwell also uses his novel to show a parallel view on Czarist Russia and the life of the Russian peasantry through the intricate characters in the novel. The history of Czarist Russia gives the background information on the life of the peasants during that time and…

behind the rest of Europe when it came to industry and modernity, but they were toward the beginning of the revolutionary movement. When World War I came about, Russians believed the war would be a short one and that they would not need to make use of all of their resources, such as soldiers and supplies. Tsar Nicholas put his faith into a Russian victory for the sake of national unity (EUROPE 165). Against Nicholas’s original beliefs, the war raged on, and peasants in Russia experienced even…

the lives of Russians. Such an event where Nicholas wasn’t around would give a terrible nickname. This day, triggered an outcry for better conditions. Ongoing strikes and riots around the country which would persist for many months. Nicholas had to bow to pressure…

“What contribution did your leader make to the revolutionary situation?” Tsar Nicholas II was the last Autocratic monarch of Russia under the Romanov rule. His reign, 1864 to 1917, was plagued with misfortune and disaster. It is undeniable that some of the events were entirely out his hands, however majority of Tsar Nicholas II actions led to the Revolutionary Situation in 1917. The decision of fighting in the Russo - Japanese War, the 1905 Revolution, Bloody Sunday, the October Manifesto and…