**Causes of the Russian Revolution:**
1. **Social Inequality and Economic Hardship:** Russia was characterized by extreme social inequality, with the majority of the population living in poverty while a small elite enjoyed vast wealth and privilege. Economic hardship, exacerbated by rapid industrialization and urbanization, led to widespread discontent among workers and peasants.
2. **Autocratic Rule of the Tsar:** The autocratic rule of Tsar Nicholas II and his refusal to implement political reforms further fueled discontent. The lack of political freedoms, repression of dissent, and brutal suppression of protests contributed to growing resentment towards the Tsarist regime.
3. **Impact of World War I:** Russia's involvement in World War I exacerbated existing social and economic problems. The strain of the war effort, coupled with military defeats and shortages of food and other essential goods, intensified popular discontent and eroded confidence in the Tsarist government.
4. **Rise of Revolutionary Movements:** Revolutionary ideas, including Marxism and socialism, gained traction among workers, intellectuals, and peasants. Revolutionary movements, such as the Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin, capitalized on popular grievances and called for an end to Tsarist rule and the establishment of a socialist society.
**Outcomes of the Russian Revolution:**
1. **Overthrow of the Tsarist Regime:** In February 1917, mass protests and strikes erupted in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), leading to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the collapse of the centuries-old Romanov dynasty. Power initially shifted to a Provisional Government composed of liberal and moderate socialist leaders.
2. **October Revolution and Bolshevik Consolidation of Power:** In October 1917 (November by the Gregorian calendar), the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, seized power in a coup against the Provisional Government. The Bolsheviks established a one-party communist regime and embarked on a program of radical social and economic transformation.
3. **Civil War:** The Bolshevik seizure of power precipitated a bloody civil war between the Bolshevik "Reds" and various anti-Bolshevik "White" factions, including monarchists, liberals, and conservative nationalists. The civil war, which lasted from 1917 to 1922, resulted in immense suffering and loss of life, but ultimately secured Bolshevik control over Russia.
4. **Establishment of the Soviet Union:** In 1922, the Bolshevik-controlled territories were consolidated into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), marking the birth of the world's first communist state. The Soviet government pursued a policy of state-controlled industrialization, collectivization of agriculture, and suppression of political dissent.
5. **Global Impact:** The Russian Revolution had profound implications both domestically and internationally. Domestically, it fundamentally transformed Russian society and laid the groundwork for the establishment of a totalitarian regime under Joseph Stalin. Internationally, the revolution inspired revolutionary movements and communist parties worldwide, while also sparking fear and hostility among capitalist nations.