In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, women were amongst the most downtrodden groups in Russian society. Few were literate, and most were put to gruelling work in the field, factory or home, or ushered into motherhood without access to contraception or abortion. This video examines how and why the Bolsheviks sought to lift Russian women from this lowly social standing.
For peasants and workers, life in pre-revolutionary Russia was largely lived in discontent. Working conditions were dangerous, hours long, and wages poor. This video examines in detail the hardships faced by this group of people, the catalysts for Bloody Sunday and the 1905 Revolution and how unrest continued to simmer for the next 12 years.
Following an embarrassing defeat in the Russo-Japanese War and World War I dragging on longer than most Russians expected, morale amongst Russia's soldiers and sailors, and civilian confidence in their incompetent military, was falling. This video explores the growing resentment of pre-revolutionary Russian soldiers and sailors, and how their discontent was harnessed by the Bolsheviks in the lead-up to 1917.
Khan Academy, Overview of the Bolshevik Revolution online video, Khan Academy, viewed 24 October 2016, <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VJuBX1p0Gys" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
