The Russian legislature was called the Duma. It was created by the Tsar to give in to calls for democracy, but in reality, it had limited powers to effect legislation.

The Russian Revolution occurred in 1917 and saw Russia pulled out of the First World War. The monarchy was replaced by a communist government run by Lenin and the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks differed from the Mensheviks in that they favored an immediate and artificial revolution.

The Russian legislature was called the Duma. It was created by the Tsar to give in to calls for democracy, but in reality, it had limited powers to effect legislation.

The Russian Revolution occurred in 1917 and saw Russia pulled out of the First World War. The monarchy was replaced by a communist government run by Lenin and the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks differed from the Mensheviks in that they favored an immediate and artificial revolution.

Kulaks were wealthy Russian peasants who emerged as significant landowners in the first decade of the twentieth century. They were branded as enemies of the state and of the communist ideal by Lenin and Stalin and persecuted in the years following the First World War.

Rasputin was a religious mystic who held great influence over the Russian royal family. Much of his influence was derived from his ability to keep one of the royal children alive. (The boy was a hemophiliac.) When Nicholas II was away leading troops at the front, his wife ruled the government, and the fact that she was considered under the control of a mystic led to much public outcry.

Kulaks were wealthy Russian peasants who emerged as significant landowners in the first decade of the twentieth century. They were branded as enemies of the state and of the communist ideal by Lenin and Stalin and persecuted in the years following the First World War.

Rasputin was a religious mystic who held great influence over the Russian royal family. Much of his influence was derived from his ability to keep one of the royal children alive. (The boy was a hemophiliac.) When Nicholas II was away leading troops at the front, his wife ruled the government, and the fact that she was considered under the control of a mystic led to much public outcry.

Communism was not yet a major factor in international affairs in the period leading up to World War I, as the Russian Revolution had not yet happened. Nationalism and pan-slavism led to the increased ethnic tensions in Europe, especially in the Balkans, and they ultimately provided immediate catalysts for the war, namely the Serbian murder of Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand and Russia's alliance with Serbia. Imperialism and militarism both contributed to growing rivalry and tension among the major European powers, namely Germany, Britain, and France. Imperialist ambitions, in particular, led to diplomatic incidents (such as the Agadir Crisis of 1911) that heightened tensions among these nations, especially due to British and French fears of German aggression.

Communism was not yet a major factor in international affairs in the period leading up to World War I, as the Russian Revolution had not yet happened. Nationalism and pan-slavism led to the increased ethnic tensions in Europe, especially in the Balkans, and they ultimately provided immediate catalysts for the war, namely the Serbian murder of Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand and Russia's alliance with Serbia. Imperialism and militarism both contributed to growing rivalry and tension among the major European powers, namely Germany, Britain, and France. Imperialist ambitions, in particular, led to diplomatic incidents (such as the Agadir Crisis of 1911) that heightened tensions among these nations, especially due to British and French fears of German aggression.