POLITICAL CHANGE Russia's history is characterized by three distinct time periods:

LINK TO... MRS. WOOD'S CLASSES RUSSIA HOMEPAGE SOURCES OF POWER POLITICAL CHANGE TSARIST RULE EARLY USSR USSR REFORMERS REVOLUTION OF 1991 RUSSIAN FEDERATION SOCIETY AND POLITICS CITIZEN AND STATE POLITICAL FRAMEWORK

a long period of autocratic rule by tsars - Tsars ruled Russia from the 14th to the early 20th century. Control of Russia was passed down through the Romanov family from the 17th century on, but transitions were often accompanied by brutality and sometimes assassination. 20th century rule by the Communist Party - Communist rule began in 1917 when Vladimir Lenin's Bolsheviks seized control of the government after the last tsar, Nicholas II, was deposed. The regime toppled in 1991 when a failed coup from within the government created chaos. an abrupt regime change to democracy and a free market in 1991 - President Boris Yeltsin put western-style reforms in place to create the Russian Federation.     The two transition periods between time periods were sparked by revolution and quick, dramatic change. The Slavic influence has brought some continuity to Russia's history, but in general change has rarely been evolutionary and gradual. Instead, long periods of authoritarian rule have been punctuated by protest and violence.