The Importance of Living and Working Conditions Towards the Bolshevik's Seizure of Power in 1917

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The Importance of Living and Working Conditions Towards the Bolshevik's Seizure of Power in 1917 Living and Working conditions were very important towards the Bolsheviks seizure of power in 1917 especially peasant conditions. Peasants were known as Serfs and were initially slaves. They lived on their Lords estate and paid rent for smallholdings. They did agricultural work on the Lord’s land and their own. The Lord could buy and sell them and also could punish them in his court. The could not, however leave the estate. In 1861, peasants were given freedom and could own their own land. They could elect their own village leaders to run village affairs. Unpaid labour services were abolished. Even with all this, conditions did not really improve. Peasants usually were in debt because they bought land. Land they bought was normally low quality and many moved into towns because they could not make a living. Famines continues and debts got worse, many became resentful and they had no money to improve farming techniques. Urban conditions meant there was not enough money to feed cities and the armies fighting the war. Working conditions for making iron and cotton mills were poor. People, including children had to work for up to 16 hours every day and only received low wages. Factories towns were overcrowded. In 1900 only 20% of Russians lived in towns. The revolution of 1917 wouldn’t of occurred is conditions were good but if this was the main reason, it would of happened earlier. The Causes of the revolution and effects of the First World War were appalling. 4 million people were injured in 1915. In the war, nobles acted as officers. The war led to revolution because the conditions became worse and by 1917 the army wasn’t loyal to the Tsar. Hunger, inflation and cold weather led to despair, strikes and demonstrations in Western cities. The Causes of the revolution and The Appeal of Lenin and the Bolsheviks meant people wanted a new government.

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