The Russian Revolution (1917) was an economic explosion hastened by the stupidities of the autocratic government

The R.ussian Revolution constitutes an event of resounding significance in the pages of the twentieth century history of the world civilization.

The revolution first came in March 1917 and then in November 1917, the revolution was carried by the Bolsheviks under leadership of Lenin.

The Russian Revolution was basically an outburst of dissatisfaction fuelled by the sharpening economic polarization of the Russian society. The Revolution when it came was hastened by the inability and stupidity of the Czar regime who failed to rise to the occasion to save Russia from impending disaster.

The Russian economy was polarized. The industry had developed in Russia by the end of the nineteenth century but the profits that accrued were confined to few hands. In causing the Revolution, the economic conditions of the workers played a highly significant role.

The workers suffered from long hours of work. They were paid low wages. Heavy fines were imposed on them and they were treated inhumanely. The capitalists blocked the path of factory reform while the workers tried to protest through the strikes.

The condition of the peasantry was no better off. Though they were freed from Serfdom in 1861, they had to pay huge compensation to the landlords. Another serious issue at hand was the shortage of land. In such a situation, the peasants cast hungry eyes upon the large estates of the landlords.

The peasants carried out the cultivation with primitive tools and outdated methods. Further, the peasants had to bear heavy burden of taxation.

In the earlier wars that Russia fought, like the Russo-Japanese war in 1905, it had to suffer high losses. It was in this background that Russia joined the World War I which aggravated the situation and sufferings. Although, there was plenty of food in the country, it did not reach the big cities in sufficient quantities because of the war time arrangement of transportation.

At the same time, a far sighted and efficient administration could have saved the situation turning into a revolution. But the Tsar Nicholas’ administration was corrupt and incompetent. The people’s appeal for necessary measures for improvement in the condition was rejected by the king and wheeled away his time in luxuries, which compelled the people to rise in revolt.

Thus, the non-competent and corrupt rule of the Czar coupled with its inability to diffuse economic grievances brought the Revolution.