One of the key moments in modern Russian history was the abolition of serfdom in 1861, a move of far-reaching historical significance in its time. In the mid-16th century, Russia, located on the eastern border of Europe, was a centralized feudal state whose social structure was shaped by the prevailing feudal serfdom. The existence of this system seriously hampered the development of capitalist industry, and in the middle of the 19th century Russia still lagged behind the other capitalist countries. The situation of the serfs was very miserable, and the frequent riots underscored the urgency of the social crisis.
Faced with this dilemma, in 1861 Tsar Alexander II of Russia signed a decree abolishing serfdom. According to this decree, the serfs became legally "free men", and the landlords lost the right to buy and sell and interfere with their lives. In addition, serfs were entitled to a piece of land when they were freed, albeit with a ransom payment. This abolitionist reform marked a bourgeois reform carried out by the Tsar from above, and had a profound impact on the modernization process of Russia. However, this reform was not completely complete, and part of the feudal remnants were preserved.
Russia's history was marked by another dramatic change in the early 20th century, notably the defeat in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, which triggered deep discontent with the tsarist system. During the Bloody Sunday incident, the repression of the military and police provoked a massive popular anti-war** that became the trigger for the All-Russian Revolution of 1905. Although the revolution was successfully suppressed by the tsars, this event shook the tsarist authority and pushed the urgency of reform.
In response to the crisis, the tsar used Stolypin to carry out reforms, which included the introduction of a system of land reform and the suppression of peasant movements. However, these reforms have failed to address the root causes of social problems. In 1914, World War I broke out, bringing heavy suffering to Russia. At the end of the war, in March 1917, the "February Revolution" broke out in Russia, ending the Tsar's rule for more than 300 years.
With the victory of the "February Revolution", the bourgeois provisional ** was established in Russia, and at the same time representatives of the Soviet workers' soldiers appeared. This period can be regarded as a bourgeois-democratic revolution, however, the continuation of the bourgeoisie temporarily ** in the world war caused opposition from the people. The Bolshevik Party was forced to go underground, and in August 1917, in the face of a change in the situation, the Bolshevik Party decided on a course of armed uprising.
On the evening of November 6, 1917, Lenin secretly went to the Smolny Palace, the general headquarters of the uprising in Petrograd, to lead the uprising. At 9:45 p.m. on November 7, with the cannon fire of the ** "Aurora", the rebel army launched a general attack on the last temporary stronghold of the bourgeoisie, the Winter Palace. In the end, the armed uprising was victorious, and Russia ushered in the famous "October Revolution".
This revolution not only overthrew the bourgeoisie temporarily, but also marked the beginning of the socialist era. Russia underwent a series of social changes after the revolution, including nationalization, land distribution, and the establishment of a peaceful Bolshevik regime. During this period, profound changes took place in Russian society, which had a long-term impact on the country's politics, economy and culture.
In general, Russia's recent history has undergone many major changes, from the abolition of serfdom to the outbreak of the October Revolution, each of which has profoundly shaped the face of Russian society. These historical events have not only had a far-reaching impact on Russia in Russia, but also have important historical implications for the international community.