Learn Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution with Top Tutors

The Social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905 was backward:

Social Conditions: 85% of Russia's population was agriculturist. The industries were there, but rarely they were privately owned. Workers were divided on the basis of their occupation. They mainly migrated to cities for employment in factories. The peasant community was deeply religious but did not care much about the nobility. They believed that land must be divided amongst themselves.

Economic Condition: Russia was going through a bad period economically. Prices of essential good rise while real wages decreased by 20% leading to the famous St. Petersburg strike. This strike started a series of events that are together known as the 1905 Revolution. During this revolution, there were strikes all over the country, universities closed down, and various professionals and workers established the Union of Unions, demanding the establishment of a constituent assembly.

Political Condition: Political parties were illegal before 1914. The Russian Social Democratic Workers Party was founded in 1898 by socialists who respected Marx’s ideas. In 1903, this party was divided into two groups - Mensheviks and Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks, who were in majority, were led by Lenin who is regarded as the greatest thinker on socialism after Marx.

The Tsar first dismissed the initial two Dumas and then packed the parliament with the conservatives.

 During the First World War, the Tsar took decisions without consulting the Duma.

 Large scale casualties of Russian soldiers in the war further alienated the people from the Tsar.

Burning of crops and buildings by the retreating Russian armies created a huge shortage of food in Russia.

All of these led to the collapse of the Tsarist autocracy in 1917.

The main changes which were brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution: Banks and Industries were nationalized. Land was declared social property, thereby allowing peasants to seize it from the nobility. In urban areas, houses were partitioned according to family requirements.