A huge country over 4000 miles
wide with around 130 million
people.
Made it difficult for the Tsar to
control such a large area and
different nationalities.
90% of the population were
peasants using very basic methods
of farming and were very poor.
They were susceptible to famine
and there was anger at the wealth
of the land owners.
Living conditions were awful, many
lived in dormitories with no privacy.
Factories were dangerous.
There was frustration at
the awful conditions and
low pay. Strikes were
common.
All decisions were made by the Tsar.
There was no parliament to represent
the people. Strict repression of any
challenge to the Tsar.
There was anger (especially among
the middle class) at the lack of
democracy.
Opposition groups such as the Socialist
Revolutionaries began to question the
autocratic system and poor living
conditions.
Although it was still
illegal people were
frustrated enough to
challenge the Tsar.
Economic Problems
1904 had been a bad year for
Russian workers with a massive
increase in the price of food. Their
wages effectively declined in value
by 20%.
Russo-Japanese War
Russia had been at war with Japan since 1904.
Japan was considered a less developed country,
however, they defeated Russia.People began to
criticise the Tsar and his government for the
failure. It was a hug embarrassment for Russia.