In 1903 a new socialist group was formed. This new group, known as the Bolsheviks, eventually became the ruling power in Russia. With the leadership of Lenin and his supporters, such as Trotsky, the Bolsheviks were successful in creating a new communist state, even in the face of its own civil war in 1918. .
As food shortages increased during the early 1900's in Russia support for the Tsar rapidly decreased. Many had refused to support the Tsar after Russia's continual defeats in WWI and riots had broken out as a result. On March 12, 1917, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated his throne and the collapse of the Romanov dynasty threw Russia into a state of confusion. In May of 1917, the reformed provisional government took control of power. .
The provisional government attempted to continue the war effort. This decision to continue with the war soon became very unpopular. The Petrograd Soviet of Workers" and Soldiers" Deputies, a huge collection of soldiers, workers and socialist, constantly weakened the provisional government with its own laws and orders. Army Order No. 1 was such an order. This order disposed of power given to military officers and gave it to committees of common soldiers. The provisional government quickly lost the support of soldiers and peasants. .
Also during this time, old revolutionary groups that had been suppressed under Tsarist Russia resurfaced under the weaker provisional government. The Bolsheviks, which had been formed due to a split of the Social Democratic Labor party in 1903, found new popularity, mainly due to its leader, Vladimir Lenin. .
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After returning from exile from Switzerland in April of 1917, Lenin began his conquest to reawaken his revolutionary socialist ideals. His leadership became the driving force that the current provisional government lacked. He became the leader the party needed, and set about gaining support for his ideas from peasants and factory workers abroad.
