IntroductionThe economic and political conditions which existed in Russia between 1900 and which were detrimental to the reign of Tsar Nicholas II; ultimately leading to the rejection of Tsarist rule in February 1917. These conditions were at the heart of the events in Russia between February and October 17 and are crucial for studies of pre-revolutionary Russia. -revolutionary Russia; suffering from overcrowded housing, long working hours, inferior safety and hygiene conditions, harsh disciplines and grossly inadequate wages, alongside rising inflation. Adding to these difficulties, although rural agrarian peasants were emancipated from serfdom in 1861, only 1.5% of the Russian population owned 25% of the land. Worker colonies were very conducive to the contraction and spread of disease. Smoke from factories, coal and lime dust, dirt from gutters, and organic waste in the streets made for an unhealthy and unsanitary way of life for workers. In the majority of factories, no special housing was provided for workers; workers often sleep on or under their workbenches. It was particularly unhealthy because the air was musty and contaminated by the toxic fumes of their trades. Many factories and mines were also in poor condition, frequently experiencing collapses; thus deteriorating air quality. Salaries were insufficient and infrequent, depending on the will and financial situation of the owner or manager. Infrequent work put workers in a very serious financial situation, having to purchase necessary food and supplies on credit, based on their future income, with the...... middle of paper ...... on soldiers had been killed with another two million taken as prisoners of war and over a million considered "missing in action". Economically, Russia was devastated. Unpaid war debts strangled the national economy, inflation soared; gold reserves were almost empty, revenues extremely low while the costs of reforms were enormous. Nicholas II's decision to participate in the Great War brought Russia to the brink of complete collapse.ConclusionThe economic and political conditions existing in Russia between 1900 and 1917 were decisive in the rejection of the tsarist regime in February 1917. Without the unsatisfied need for fulfillment and rising wages of the working class, increasing political grievances and pressures produced by war; the attitudes that led to the 1917 revolution that effectively ended 370 years of Tsarist rule would not have existed.