Russia 1914-1924

Tsar Nicholas II - autocrat - ruled without parliament - Church taught that he must be obeyed

Peasants - 85% of people - poor - using inefficient farming methods

peasant villages controlled by mir - local council - decided if a peasant could own or rent land

growth in industry - large working population in towns - cramped - bad wages

1905 - Russia defeated in a war with Japan

poor conditions - food shortages - lead to strikes and demonstrations

Duma was set up - elected assembly or parliament

1906 - first duma - liberal constitutional democratic party - cadets - won a majority - demanded control of taxes - tsar had promised

tsar dismissed duma - many liberals fled to finland - new elections - more radical members of Marxist SDLP - won some seats from cadets - when Tsar wanted to arrest several SDLP members as terrorists - Duma refused - Tsar dismissed it too

Next two dumas obeyed the Tsar - 1907- 1914 - SDLP were not allowed to run as candidates

Press was censored - Cheka - secret police - used to spy on the people the tsar feared

Situation hadn't improved - lots of discontent - among poor working class