Although revolutions often help to socially, politically, and economically modernize a nation, the years leading up to revolutions are often quite restless. Numerous causes exist that can spark a revolution, from people to series of events to religion. In the cases of the Mexican, Russian, and Iranian revolutions, organized groups of common people (often led by a heroic figure), dissatisfied with the government, rose up against the government in the name of political reform and better lives.

Modern societies owe much to past uprisings against repressive governments, which may restrict the nation from moving in a forward direction. In the 1900s, Russia was a considered a backward country due to the lack of reforms passed by the weak government. As said by Anatole Leroy-Beaulieu,

"Russia was a castle, constructed at different epochs, where the most discordant styles are seen side by side, or else those houses, built piecemeal...