Editing History of Russia (section)

===Nicholas II and new revolutionary movement===
{{Main|History of Russia (1892–1917)}}

Alexander was succeeded by his son [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]] (1894–1918). The Industrial Revolution, which began to exert a significant influence in Russia, was meanwhile creating forces that would finally overthrow the tsar. Politically, these opposition forces organized into three competing parties: The liberal elements among the industrial capitalists and nobility, who wanted peaceful social reform and a constitutional monarchy, founded the [[Constitutional Democratic party]] or ''Kadets'' in 1905. Followers of the Narodnik tradition established the [[Socialist-Revolutionary Party]] or ''Esers'' in 1901, advocating the distribution of land among the peasants who worked it. A third radical group founded the [[Russian Social Democratic Labour Party]] or ''RSDLP'' in 1898; this party was the primary exponent of [[Marxism]] in Russia. Gathering their support from the radical intellectuals and the urban working class, they advocated complete social, economic and political revolution.<ref>Hugh Seton-Watson, ''The Russian Empire 1801–1917'' (Oxford History of Modern Europe) (1967), pp. 598–627</ref>

In 1903, the RSDLP split into two wings: the radical [[Bolshevik]]s, led by [[Vladimir Lenin]], and the relatively moderate [[Menshevik]]s, led by Yuli Martov. The Mensheviks believed that Russian socialism would grow gradually and peacefully and that the tsar's regime should be succeeded by a democratic republic. The Bolsheviks advocated the formation of a small elite of professional revolutionaries, subject to strong party discipline, to act as the vanguard of the proletariat in order to seize power by force.<ref>For an analysis of the reaction of the elites to the revolutionaries see Roberta Manning, ''The Crisis of the Old Order in Russia: Gentry and Government''. (1982).</ref>

At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia continued its expansion in the Far East; Chinese Manchuria was in the zone of Russian interests. Russia took an active part in the [[Boxer Rebellion|intervention of the great powers in China]] to suppress the Boxer rebellion. During this war, Russia occupied Manchuria, which caused a clash of interests with Japan. In 1904, the [[Russo-Japanese War]] began, which ended extremely unfavourably for Russia.