Question

importance of 1917, 1898, 1905 in Russian history

Answer 1

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Under Tsar Nicholas II (reigned 1894–1917), the Russian Empire slowly industrialized while repressing opposition in the political center and on the far left. During the 1890s Russia's industrial development led to a large increase in the size of the urban middle class and of the working class, which gave rise to a more dynamic political atmosphere[citation needed] and the development of radical parties. Because the state and foreigners owned much of Russia's industry, the Russian working class was comparatively stronger and the Russian bourgeoisie comparatively weaker than in the West. The working class and the peasants became the first to establish political parties in Russia, because the nobility and the wealthy bourgeoisie were politically timid.[citation needed] During the 1890s and early 1900s, bad living- and working-conditions, high taxes, and land hunger gave rise to more frequent strikes and agrarian disorders. These activities prompted the bourgeoisie of various nationalities in the Russian Empire to develop a host of different parties, both liberal and conservative. By 1914, 40% of Russian workers were employed in factories of 1,000 workers or more (32% in 1901). 42% worked in businesses of 100 to 1000 workers, and 18% in businesses of 100 workers or less (in 1914 the United States had equivalent figures of 18%, 47% and 35% respectively).[1]

Politically, anti-establishment forces organized into competing parties. The liberal elements among the industrial capitalists and nobility, who believed in peaceful social reform and a constitutional monarch, founded the Constitutional Democratic party or Kadetsin 1905. Radical factions had their own parties. The workers in major cities revolted in 1905, with widespread strikes and mutinies. The Tsar barely kept control; he promised an elective parliament (the Duma) and the revolt subsided. The Tsar then dissolved the Duma (1906). He turned to Peter Stolypin (Prime Minister from 1906 to 1911) to reform the huge but sluggish economy.

Nicholas II's foreign policy centred on an alliance with France, and involved increased meddling in Balkan affairs. Russia proclaimed a role for itself[when?] as military protector of Orthodox Christians, notably those in Serbia. Efforts to expand Russian power in the Far East led to a short war with Japan in 1904-1905, which ended in humiliating defeat for St Petersburg. The Russians blundered into full-scale war in 1914 without realizing the risks. With few exceptions the government proved incompetent and the Imperial Russian Armysuffered heavy losses. Eventually, liberal elements overthrew the Tsar and the entire Tsarist régime in early 1917, as the radicals like Lenin waited their turn to seize power, largely working through soviets in the factories and in the army.
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