Following the devastating defeat in the Crimean War (1853-1856), Russia underwent significant changes. The war exposed weaknesses in the political, economic, and military structures of the Russian Empire. This led to a wave of reforms under Tsar Alexander II, including the emancipation of serfs in 1861. Although these reforms were a step towards modernization, they did not address the deeper problems of inequality, poverty, and political repression. These issues would eventually contribute to the rise of revolutionary movements and the eventual collapse of the Romanov dynasty in 1917.
