Why was the 1917 Revolution of Russia successful?

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Nathan Merryweather        Russia Question 2        06/03/2009

Why was the 1917 revolution so successful?

On 15th March 1917 Tsar Nicholas II of Russia officially abdicated from his position of Power. The Tsar had survived a revolution in 1905 but yet just 12 years later this autocrat had lost his authority. This essay will explain why the 1917 Revolution was so successful at removing the Tsar from power. It will also explain most reasons why Russia hated the Tsar.

Even before the attempted 1905 revolution, there had been trouble brewing in Russia. For example the peasants were suffering starvation and illness because of the poor living conditions and Dismal income. Also, the working classes in the major cities had horrific living and working conditions such as overcrowded accommodation and low wages. Furthermore, the middle classes had demanded that they be granted free speech and the right to form political parties to attain a better representation.

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However, there had been some improvements made by the Tsar. For example the Tsar did create a Duma which was an elected parliament in 1905 as he knew this would please the middle class who had requested it. Unfortunately, the Duma did not really change the way Russia was ruled as the Tsar had placed too many limitations and rules on the way that they operated. The Tsar had also fixed it so that none of his opposition’s parties could run for parliament, so that only his supporters could get elected.

A major turning point in making the 1917 revolution ...

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