Political History of Russia

Moscow princes led Russia during the 14th century, and they expanded their territory through many means up until the 15th century when Ivan III tripled the size of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. However, as his rule continued, Ivan began to assert autocratic control over Russia, or absolutist power. He forced the people of Russia and nobles to acknowledge his absolute power over all affairs of the state, and the same rights would be awarded to his descendants. The first ruler to name himself TSAR was Ivan IV, who was known as Ivan the Terrible. When he took power, he began to assert his power over the nobles by exiling or executing them for any misdemeanor. After Ivan died, his son still remained childless, so when Ivan's son died, the country broke out into civil war, and the period was known as the "Time of Troubles". Some weak tsars ruled during this time, but none were really acknowledged due to the question of succession. In the early 1600's, the national assembly elected Michael Romanov to the throne, and the Romanov family would continue to rule until 1917. They were meant to establish peace in the country, but they also reestablished serfdom, and the burden of most taxes were placed on the peasants. In the 17th century, Peter the Great began to establish Russia as an imperial, industrializing country, as they were behind the rest of Europe in these endeavours. Peter established himself as an absolutist ruler, but also established Russia as a modern state. When Nicolas I came to power in the 19th century, the Decembrist Revolt led him to turn away from the ideas of Peter the Great and adopt "Autocracy, Orthodoxy, and Nationality". After Nicolas, Alexander II took the throne and abolished serfdom in 1861, one of the most important events in Russian history. Between the abolition of serfdom and the start of WWI, notable changes were made in Russia, but tsars were unwilling to relinquish their power. When the Russian Revolution took place in 1917, the Communist Bolsheviks took power, where up until 1991, the Communists ruled over Russia. A period of socialist rule continued until Stalin ruled, but thereafter, the Soviet Union declined until its fall in 1991. The Russian Federation was established after the fall of Communism, and although they have attempted capitalism, many of their old political tendencies still have a place in their country.