Prior to the Russian Revolution in 1917, Tsar Nicholas II ruled Russia but faced growing discontent from peasants and workers suffering from extreme poverty and the control of the bourgeoisie. Discontent increased after Russia's disastrous defeat in the 1904 Russo-Japanese War, which caused further economic hardship. Bloody Sunday in 1905 saw imperial guards kill over 100 protesters who had petitioned the Tsar at the palace gates for improved living conditions, shattering peasants' faith in the Tsar's protection. World War I weakened Russia further and led to the overthrow of the Tsar in 1917, ending centuries of imperial rule.

1. Prior to the Russian revolution.In Russia the Tsar was the monarch and emperor. At the time of the Russian revolution Nicholas II was in power.Prior to the revolution peasants and workers were dealing with extreme poverty and were growing tired of the control that the bourgeoisie had.Discontent began to grow and to divert this attention Nicholas II agreed to go to war with Japan in 1904, this is what we now call the Russo-Japanese war.The campaign was a failure, with massive loss of life. The flow on effects of the war further hurt the peasants and workers of Russia, through food shortages and rising costs of things like bread.

2. Bloody SundayPrior to the Bloody Sunday conflict, Russian peasants still believed that the Tsar was their guardian and that he would protect them.A petition was signed and marched to the gates of the palace. The gatherers didn’t want political overhaul they just wanted their living conditions improved.The protestors were met at the gates by guards who shot down over one hundred people (the number varies according to the source).The Peasants lost their faith in the Tsar and Russia looked like it was about to implode with strikes and conflicts causing unrest and turmoil. However the political parties could not impress the Russian people therefore the Tsar stayed in power.

3. Bloody Sunday Petition"Oh Sire, we working men and inhabitants of St. Petersburg, our wives, our children and our parents, helpless and aged women and men, have come to You our ruler, in search of justice and protection. We are beggars, we are oppressed and overburdened with work, we are insulted, we are not looked on as human beings but as slaves. The moment has come for us when death would be better than the prolongation of our intolerable sufferings.We are seeking here our last salvation. Do not refuse to help Your people. Destroy the wall between Yourself and Your people."Bloody Sunday petition.

4. Vladimir LeninLenin was born April 22 1870Lenin’s brother was hanged for an assassination attempt on the Tsar.

5. Lenin discovers the works of Karl Marx while studying law, he develops into a political radical.

6. Lenin was arrested and exiled in 1895 for plotting against the Tsar Alexander III.

7. Once his exile ended Lenin toured around Europe but settled in Zurich.

8. Lenin briefly returned to Russia and was made the leader of the Bolshevik party.WWIWWI broke out and alliances quickly formed.Russia already considered Germany as a giant threat and when they joined an alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy (triple alliance), Russia joined Britain and France (triple entente) for war.Russia suffered major losses, they had a massive army but none of the resources because they were one of the least industralised countries in Europe. They were sending men into war without guns, they were told to pick up their fallen comrade’s rifles. Russia had to withdraw from the war because of the 1917 revolution.