How did the first world war cause a revolution in russia?
WWI amplified many of the existing problems in Russia. The workers in the cities worked very long hours – up to 14 hours a day, six days a week, for very little pay, and many lived in dormitories as house building had not kept pace with demand. The peasants could not plough, sow or bring in the harvests as the young men were off fighting in the war. And they were still heavily in debt after the emancipation of the serfs – they had to buy their freedom over 50 years, and many were still serfs. The situation in the countryside caused problems in the cities – they were starving, and in the army – the peasants in uniform wanted to get back to their villages to help with the farming – this was especially true in the spring and autumn, the ploughing and harvest seasons. The Tsar took personal command of the army after its terrible start to the war. Unfortunately he was as inept as a military leader as he was a political leader, and many blamed him for Russia’s disastrous campaigns. Political
