The leader of the Russian Revolution was Vladimir Ilič Lenin, who was also the leader of the Communist Party. In the wake of the First World War, he took advantage of the already existing weaknesses of the Russian Empire and gained the authorities with his Bolsheviks in 1917. This event was preceded by many rebellions and revolutions, such as the Revolution of 1905, when dissatisfied peasants and workers demanded economic reforms. Emperor Nicholas showed no intention of seriously addressing existing economic problems, which led to the October Revolution.