The Revolution in RussiaIn the final years of the First World War a Revolution in Russia overthrew the Tsar and ultimately led to the creation of the world's first openly communist state. The Soviet Union, born from the ashes of the Russian Empire, would play a vital role in the events of the rest of the century. A useful way to understand the course of the Russian Revolution of 1917 is to compare it to a fire. In this metaphor, the instability of late-imperial Russia and the deep dissatisfaction of large segments of its population provided abundant fuel for the fires ignited by the disastrous course of the First World War. Although the vast majority of the population initially rejoiced when the imperial government went up in flames, moderates soon began to fear that they too would be consumed if the fire was allowed to spread. Their caution, however, backfired, as they gradually lost the respect and trust of the population. As their authority collapsed, the inferno spread unchecked, benefiting radicals willing to indulge the growing anarchy and support the demands of the people. The militant Bolshevik Party was the group that best managed to ride the firestorm to power, which they took during the famous October Revolution. They followed the revolution until it died out, and were then able to consolidate their position as absolute rulers of the country. Dead Wood Despite being one of the largest, most powerful, and most feared nations in the world, Imperial Russia rested on an unstable foundation. foundations. The farmers, workers and progressives were all deeply dissatisfied. Furthermore, they had little hope of improving their situation through peaceful means. ...... middle of sheet ......206.12 Figes, People's Tragedy, 360.13 Ibid., 430.14 This phrase is often attributed to Lenin or his associate Leon Trotsky.15 1917 god v derevne Vospominaniia krestian (Moscow, 1967), 316 Except for a temporary decline during the harvest period. See Lazar Volin, A Century of Russian Agriculture: From Alexander II to Khrushev (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1970), 125.17 1917 god v derevne, 318 Ibid., 4.19 Figes, People's Tragedy, 433-434.20 NN Sukhanov, The Russian Revolution , and. Joel Carmichael (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984), 470.21 See David Schaich, The Bolsheviks, the Masses, and October for further discussion.22 History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Moscow: Foreign Language Publishing House, 1960), 260-261.23 See David Schaich, The Bolsheviks, the Masses, and October for further discussion.