1. The condition of Russia before the revolution of February/March 1917

The Tsar and political authroity 

• autocratic Emperor of Russia in 1917 was Tsar Nicholas II (Romanov Dynasty)
• inherited the throne at 26 in 1894 
• tutored by the arch - conservative Konstantin Pobedonostsev, who had ensured that he had the moral cotrectness of autocracy instilled in him from a very young age 
• ill - suited for the role: shy and awkard in public, founf detail of political affairs broing and was over cautious, stuggled to make clear political decisions, stubborn and saw advice as critism 
• minimised the Duma's influence by dismissing a zemstvo petition for an elected National Assesmbly 
• felt he need to keep the minister weak to keep his power, pitted them agaisnt each other and grew suspicious of those who became too powerful 

The Russian war effort 

• Tsar's deciosn to go to war was initially popular and supported by anti - German sentiment 
• Duma dissovled as it did not want to burden the country with 'unnecessary politics' duing war time 
• change St Petersburg to Petrograd as it was too German 
• at the Battle of Tennenburg (August 1914) resulted in 300,000 Russian's dead or wounded and thousands taken prisoner 
• war…