The russian empire at the begining of XX Century

In 1900 Russia was a poor country compared with Western Europe. The peasants were no longer serfs, but their life was still poor and primitive. They had no say in the government. Tsar Nicolas II had absolute power in Russia, he had complete control over the government.

Educated people believed that big reforms were necessary in Russia. In 1905 Russia´s defeat in a war with Japan provoked rebellion. Rebellion broke out, after troops fired on striking workers in the capital, St. Petersburg (Bloody Sunday). The Tsar created a parliament called the Duma with the promise of a more democratic government, but this did not happen. IIn 1917 Russia suffered as a result of the impacts of the First World War. More than 1.5 million soldiers had died by the end of 1917. Inflation greatly increased prices and there were hunger and food shortages.