Final answer:
It is true that Russia was under autocratic rule prior to the Russian Revolution of 1917, led by Tsar Nicholas II, and this form of governance, alongside a rigid social structure, had a profound impact on the country's political and economic development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Russia was under autocratic rule at the time is true. Just before World War I, Russia was firmly an autocracy led by Tsar Nicholas II, indicating a governance system where a single ruler had absolute power. In contrast to other European powers which had begun to adopt forms of representative governance, Russia maintained a strong monarchical system with little to no political freedom for its citizens. The social structure, characterized by a vast division between the wealthy aristocracy and the impoverished serfs, along with autocratic rule, hindered economic development and led to significant political and social unrest. This unrest ultimately culminated in the Russian Revolution of 1917, which brought an end to the tsarist autocracy and led to the establishment of a socialist government under the Bolsheviks.