Problems in Russia that contributed to the revolution in 1917 are numerous, but the chief reason is Russia's situation in the twentieth century. Russia, an autocracy with underrepresented citizens, already had the seeds sown for revolution. No one event caused the revolution, though factors such as Tsar Nicholas's decisions and the outbreak of World War II did contribute to the Tsar's overthrow, though to a lesser degree. Difficulties with the Russian form of government were the central grounds for the 1917 revolution. Russia's enormous size, difficult communications, and lack of unity between its different peoples had existed long before the 1900s. However, by 1900, its population had increased by fifty percent, increasing the competition of land between peasants. The workers' poor living conditions did not improve. In addition, Russia was ruled by an autocracy with a formidable secret police, the Okhrana, using violence to deal with any opposition to the government. …
