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Examine the factors that contributed to the decline of the Russian autocracy and the outbreak of the 1917 Revolution.
Answer:
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The factors that contributed to the decline of the Russian autocracy and the outbreak of the 1917 Revolution were:
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Economic hardship
: The Russian economy was backward and dependent on agriculture. The Industrial Revolution brought rapid urbanization and industrialization, but also poverty, exploitation, and discontent among the workers. The high cost of war and inflation worsened the economic situation of the masses.
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Food shortages:
The poor harvests and transportation problems caused by the war led to food shortages and famine in many parts of Russia. The peasants hoarded their grain and refused to sell it at low prices. The urban population faced hunger and starvation.
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Government corruption:
The czarist regime was corrupt and inefficient. The bureaucracy was bloated and incompetent. The nobility and the clergy enjoyed privileges and exemptions from taxes. The court was dominated by reactionary advisers and influence peddlers. The czar himself was weak and indecisive, and his wife Alexandra was under the sway of Rasputin, a mystic healer who interfered in state affairs.
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Political oppression:
The czarist regime was autocratic and repressive. It denied political rights and freedoms to its subjects. It censored the press and suppressed dissenting voices. It dissolved the Duma, or parliament, whenever it opposed its policies. It used violence and terror to crush any opposition or protest.
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Social inequality:
Russian society was divided into rigid classes based on birth and status. The majority of the population consisted of peasants who lived in feudal conditions. They had to pay heavy taxes and feudal dues to the state, the church, and the landlords. They had no voice or representation in the government. The workers were exploited and oppressed by the capitalists and the state. They had no trade unions or political parties to defend their interests. The middle class was frustrated by the lack of political rights and opportunities. They were influenced by the ideas of socialism and democracy.
- Military defeats : The Russian army was ill-equipped and poorly trained to fight a modern war. It suffered heavy losses and defeats in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) and World War I (1914-1918). It lacked adequate weapons, ammunition, clothing, food, and medical care. It faced low morale, desertion, mutiny, and fraternization with the enemy.
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