Final answer:
The 1905 Revolution in Russia was caused by economic inequality and lack of political representation. Post-revolution, the Duma was established but the Tsar retained autocratic power. This eventually led to the Bolshevik Revolution and the establishment of the Soviet Union.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason for the 1905 Revolution in Russia was largely due to economic inequality and a lack of political representation. The Romanov tsars' autocratic rule faced increasing criticism, as liberal ideologies from Europe inspired the Russian society to seek reform. An immediate trigger was Russia's military failures in the Russo-Japanese War, which sparked widespread strikes and protests. The Bolsheviks, a faction supporting socialist and Marxist ideologies, promised change through violent revolution. They sought to win over the peasantry by offering land redistribution and an end to the oppressive tsarist regime.
After the 1905 Revolution, Tsar Nicholas II agreed to create a legislature called the Duma, which marked the beginning of a parliamentary system. However, he was unwilling to share real power, maintaining autocratic control. The continued strain of World War I led to food shortages and further suppression of rights, which ultimately resulted in the abdication of the Tsar and the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Lenin and the Bolsheviks promised peace, land, and bread, fundamentally changing the Russian political landscape and leading to the rise of the Soviet Union.