the governments in Russia and the incompetency and authoritarian views

of it's czars. Their failures as leaders included policies that

neither pleased nor benefitted the people. By the end of the

nineteenth century, Russia's economy, government, military, and social

organization was at an extreme decline. Russia had become the least

advanced of the major European nations in terms of political and

social development. There was no parliament, and no middle class. The

Church, officers, and other important people and institutions were

firmly against social progress. The disastrous defeat of Russia in the

Crimean War in 1855 and 1856 exposed weaknesses of Russia's various

For the first few decades of the 1800's, Russia's outlook was

brighter under Alexander I, who was relatively liberal. He became more

reactionary however, and following his death, a group of young army

officers tried to overturn the Czardom. This was called the Decembrist

Revolt. The next czar, Nicholas, was a die hard authoritarian. The

Administrative system continued to decay regardless of his iron fisted

by attempting reform. In 1861 he freed the serfs and gave them

ended violently with the Czar's troops firing on the crowd. In October

government for the land over a period of 49 years with interest.

duma was formed. This broke the czar's absolute power. However, the

Hayden, David. "Russian Revolution." Merit Students Encyclopedia. New

anger, they were only given the opportunity to share it as members of

czar chose reactionary ministers to lead the duma and the secret

boiled over and resulted in revolution. The public dissatisfaction

including WWI, of the working class citizens in Russia that eventually

the fight against serfdom and autocracy.

incoming tide. In fact, they resisted change at every avenue possible

of Russian soldiers. Their army suffered great casualties and a

Some common words found in the essay are:
World War, Revolution- Russian, Alexander II, October Manifesto, Alexander III, Crimean War, Decembrist Revolt, Father Gapon, Russo Japanese, Baku Strikes, russian revolution, russian people,
Approximate Word count = 832
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)