Uprisings in Russia
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Pressure for social and political change existed in Russia long before the outbreak of World War I in Europe in 1914. The involvement in the war brought opposition to an already unpopular Tsarist Nicholas II regime.
As workers and peasants were forced to join the Russian army, the economy crumbled as the country could not cope with the demands of the war. Enormous casualties suffered in the war brought more unpopular opinions toward the regime.
In March 1917, food shortages led to riots in Petrograd. On March 8th resistance groups were formed all over the city by people which led to protests and riots against the regime. The crowds demanded food and the step down of Tsar. 90,000 men and women were on strike. Encounters with the police were mounting and the workers continued to occupy the streets as the tension increased with the protestors. The next day, the protestors were back on the streets but were yelling out different demands: "Give us bread and we will go to work," "Down with the Government," "Down with the Romanoffs," and occasionally "Down with the War!..