The Russian Revolution
1. The Russian Empire by 1900
- Geography and Population: Russia spanned Eastern Europe and Asia, with 130 million people by 1900. It was ruled as an autocracy, where the leader had absolute power.
- Ruling Family: The Romanov dynasty ruled Russia with Tsar Nicholas II as the last emperor (1894-1917).
- Class System: Russian society had a rigid class structure:
- Aristocrats: Wealthy landowners and rulers of Russia.
- Bourgeoisie: Middle class professionals and industrialists.
- Proletariat: Industrial workers who faced exploitation.
- Serfs: Poor peasants who worked on the land without rights.
2. Russia’s Problems (By 1900)
- Agrarian Economy: Russia was mainly agricultural and economically backward, with few industries.
- Weak Leadership: Tsar Nicholas II failed to resolve the country’s political and economic issues.
Oppression: Critics of the government were punished by the secret police, and the Orthodox Church supported the Tsar’s absolute rule.