Eventually, empires and nations all collapse. The end can be
             brought about by many causes. Whether through becoming too large for
             their own good, being ruled by a series of out of touch men, falling
             behind technologically, having too many enemies, succumbing to civil
             war, or a combination: no country is safe. The Russia of 1910 was in a
             tremendously horrible situation. She had all of these problems.
             Russia would not have existed by 1920 were it not for Vladimir Ilich
             Lenin, the only man capable of saving the failing nation.
             Russia in 1910 was a very backwards country. Peasants who lived
             in absolute poverty made up the vast majority of Russia's population
             (Haney 19). Russia's version of the feudal system had ended a mere 49
             years earlier, but in effect it meant that peasants now owned the
             meager parcels of land upon which their survival rested. Their ruler,
             Czar Nicholas II, ruled aloof of his disorganized nation. His
             government of appointed officials and men in inherited positions did
             not represent the people (The Tyranny of Stupidity 120). Even though
             all of Europe had experienced the Industrial Revolution, Russia had
             precious little machinery. To obtain more advanced machines, the
             government traded grain to other countries in exchange for machinery,
             even though it meant that more people would starve (Haney 17).
             Compound this with the devastation and desperation brought on shortly
             thereafter by the First World War, and there was no confidence left in
             the government. Different political factions formed, and none got
             along (U.S.S.R. 63). Liberal constitutionalists wanted to remove the
             czar and form a republic; social revolutionists tried to promote a
             peasant revolution; Marxists promoted a revolution among the
             proletariat, or urban working class. The people were fed up with
             Russia's state of affairs and ready for change.
             Change was...