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Russia was ruled by Tsars who had ultimate authority on all matters of governance. The oppressive system left no room for change and brewed revolutionary ideas and aspirations.

The 1905 revolution was consequence of huge inequalities and the reaction of the Tsar to such far reaching discontent was minor concessions amounting to superficial reform

The dire social conditions of the Russian people, rural and urban, and unpopularity of the Tsar's regime forced him to abdicate his throne in February 1917. The replacement by a provisional government provided ineffective governance and the platform for the Bolsheviks to seize power in the October revolution.

The period after the February Revolution which deposed the Tsar had seen little change, and in October 1917 a number of events and conditions opened the door for a Bolshevik coup d'état (seizing power).