Notes/UNB/Year 5/Semester 1/HIST1001/In class notes.md

## Background on Russia
- Long history of expansion
- A multinational empire
- The Romanov ruled for over 300 years
## Russia in the early 20th century
- Serfdom abolished (1861), industrialization started
- Social and political tension
- Low class people forced to pay for their freedom
- Defeated in war with Japan
The people wanted change, many wanted more western political systems like a parliament, and many assassinations took place during this time.
## Revolution
Tsar Nicholas II abdicates in 1917, replaced by Provisional government (called the February Revolution), but was overthrown by Lenin and Bolsheviks later that year (called the October Revolution). The Russian calendar at the time was 14 days behind the current one, hence the date discrepancy.

**Some Key Points**
- Tradition as major power, but struggling to modernize. In a vulnerable state
- Tradition of autocratic rule and repression
- Challenges of governing a vast state remain. 
- Bolsheviks have ambitious international goals