Russian Revolution: Bolshevik Revolution

Russian revolution: Bolshevik revolution
Introduction: The Russian Revolution of 1917 was one of the most explosive
political events of the twentieth century. The violent revolution marked the end
of the Romanov dynasty and centuries of Russian Imperial rule. During the
Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks, led by leftist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin,
seized power and destroyed the tradition of csarist rule. The Bolsheviks would
later become the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
Russian revolution: In 1917, two revolutions swept through Russia,

ending centuries of imperial rule and setting into motion political and social
changes that would lead to the formation of the Soviet Union.. While the two
revolutionary events took place within a few short months, social unrest in
Russia had been simmering for decades.
In the early 1900s, Russia was one of the most impoverished countries in
Europe with an enormous peasantry and a growing minority of poor industrial
workers.
Much of Western Europe viewed Russia as an undeveloped, backwards

society. The Russian Empire practiced serfdom—a form of feudalism in which
landless peasants were forced to serve the land-owning nobility—well into the
nineteenth century. In contrast, the practice had disappeared in most of
Western Europe by the end of the middle ages.
In 1861, the Russian Empire finally abolished serfdom. The emancipation of

serfs would influence the events leading up to the Russian Revolution by
giving peasants more freedom to organize.
Russian Revolution of 1905
Russia industrialized much later than Western Europe and the United States.
When it finally did, around the turn of the 20th century, it brought with it
immense social and political changes.
Between 1890 and 1910, for example, the population of major Russian cities
such as St. Petersburg and Moscow nearly doubled, resulting in overcrowding
and destitute living conditions for a new class of Russian industrial workers.
A population boom at the end of the 19th century, a harsh growing season due
to Russia’s northern climate, and a series of costly wars—starting with the
Crimean War (1854-1856)—meant frequent food shortages across the vast
empire.
Large protests by Russian workers against the monarchy led to the Bloody
Sunday massacre 1905. Hundreds of unarmed protesters were killed or
wounded by the czar’s troops.
The massacre sparked the Russian revolution of 1905, during which angry
workers responded with a series of crippling strikes throughout the country.
Nicholas II
After the bloodshed of 1905, Czar Nicholasll promised the formation of a

series of representative assemblies, or Dumas, to work toward reform.
Russia entered into WORLD WAR l in August 1914 in support of the Serbs and
their French and British allies. Their involvement in the war would soon prove
disastrous for the Russian Empire.
Militarily, imperial Russia was no match for industrialized Germany, and

Russian casualties were greater than those sustained by any nation in any
previous war. Food and fuel shortages plagued Russia as inflation mounted.
The economy was hopelessly disrupted by the costly war effort.
Czar Nicholas left the Russian capital of Petrograd (St. Petersburg) in 1915 to
take command of the Russian Army front. (The Russians had renamed the
imperial city in 1914, because the name “St. Petersburg” had sounded too
German.
Rasputin and the Czarina
In her husband’s absence, Czarina Alexandra—an unpopular woman of

German ancestry—began firing elected officials. During this time, her
controversial advisor,Grogory Rasputin , increased his influence over Russian
politics and the royal Romanov family.
Russian nobles eager to end Rasputin’s influence murdered him on December

30, 1916. By then, most Russians had lost faith in the failed leadership of the
czar. Government corruption was rampant, the Russian economy remained
backward and Nicholas repeatedly dissolved the duma, the toothless Russian
parliament established after the 1905 revolution, when it opposed his will.
Moderates soon joined Russian radical elements in calling for an overthrow of

the hapless czar.
February Revolution
The February Revolution (known as such because of Russia’s use of the

Julian calendar until February 1918) began on March 8, 1917 (February 23 on
the Julian calendar).
Demonstrators clamoring for bread took to the streets of Petrograd. Supported

by huge crowds of striking industrial workers, the protesters clashed with
police but refused to leave the streets.
On March 11, the troops of the Petrograd army garrison were called out to
quell the uprising. In some encounters, the regiments opened fire, killing
demonstrators, but the protesters kept to the streets and the troops began to
waver.
The Duma formed a provisional government on March 12. A few days later,
Czar Nicholas abdicated the throne, ending centuries of Russian Romanov
rule.
The leaders of the provisional government, including young Russian lawyer

Alexander Kerensky, established a liberal program of rights such as freedom
of speech, equality before the law, and the right of unions to organize and
strike. They opposed violent social revolution.
As minister of war, Kerensky continued the Russian war effort, even though
Russian involvement in World War I was enormously unpopular. This further
exacerbated Russia’s food supply problems. Unrest continued to grow as
peasants looted farms and food riots erupted in the cities.
Bolshevik Revolution:
On November 6 and 7, 1917 (or October 24 and 25 on the Julian calendar,

which is why the event is often referred to as the October revolution , leftist
revolutionaries led by Bolshevik Party leader Vladimir lenin launched a nearly
bloodless coup d’état against the Duma’s provisional government. It was the
second revolutionary change of government in Russia in 1917.
The October Revolution followed and capitalized on the February revolution earlier in

the year. Contrary to popular belief, Lenin did not overthrow the Czar. The February
Revolution had overthrown the Tsarist autocracy, resulting in a provisional government.
The provisional government had taken power after being proclaimed by Grand Duke
Michael, Czar Nicholasll’s younger brother, who declined to take power after the Tsar
stepped down. During this time, urban workers began to organize into councils (soviets)
wherein revolutionaries criticized the provisional government and its actions. The
provisional government remained widely unpopular, especially because it was
continuing to fight in World War I, and had ruled with an iron fist throughout the summer
(including killing hundreds of protesters in the July Days
Events came to head in the fall as the Directorate, led by the left-wing Socialist
revolutionary party, controlled the government. The left-wing Bolsheviks were deeply
unhappy with the government, and began spreading calls for a military uprising. On 10
October 1917, the Petrograd soviet, , led by Trotsky, voted to back a military uprising.
On 24 October the government shut down numerous newspapers and closed the city of
Petrograd in an attempt to forestall the revolution; minor armed skirmishes broke out.
The next day a full scale uprising erupted, as a fleet of Bolshevik sailors entered the
harbor and tens of thousands of soldiers rose up in support of the Bolsheviks. Bolshevik
Red Guards forces under the Military revolutionary committee began the occupation
of government buildings on 25 October, 1917. The following day, the Winter Palace (the
seat of the Provisional government located in Petrograd, then capital of Russia) was
captured.
As the Revolution was not universally recognized, the country descended into civil war,
which would last until 1923 and ultimately lead to the creation of the SOVIET UNION in
late 1922. The historiography of the event has varied. The victorious Soviet Union
viewed it as a validation of their ideology, and the triumph of the worker over capitalism.
During Soviet times revolution day was made a national holiday, marking its importance
in the country's founding story. On the other hand, the Western Allies saw it as a violent
coup, which used the democratic Soviet councils only until they were no longer useful.
The event inspired many cultural works, and ignited communist movements across
Europe and globally. Many Marxist-Leninist parties around the world still celebrate
revolution day. Contemporary Russia now distances itself from its Soviet past by
removing the October Revolution as a national holiday
Russian Civil War:
Civil War broke out in Russia in late 1917 after the Bolshevik Revolution. The
warring factions included the Red and White Armies.
The Red Army fought for the Lenin’s Bolshevik government. The White Army
represented a large group of loosely allied forces, including monarchists,
capitalists and supporters of democratic socialism.
On July 16, 1918, the Romanovs were executed by the Bolsheviks.The

Russian Civil War ended in 1923 with Lenin’s Red Army claiming victory and
establishing the Soviet Union.
Impact of The Russian Revolution: The Russian Revolution paved the

way for the rise of comminism as an influential political belief system around
the world. It set the stage for the rise of the Soviet Union as a world power
that would go head-to-head with the United States during the cold war

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Russian revolution: Bolshevik revolution

Russian revolution: In 1917, two revolutions swept through Russia,

Much of Western Europe viewed Russia as an undeveloped, backwards

In 1861, the Russian Empire finally abolished serfdom. The emancipation of

Russian Revolution of 1905

After the bloodshed of 1905, Czar Nicholasll promised the formation of a

Militarily, imperial Russia was no match for industrialized Germany, and

Rasputin and the Czarina

In her husband’s absence, Czarina Alexandra—an unpopular woman of

Russian nobles eager to end Rasputin’s influence murdered him on December

Moderates soon joined Russian radical elements in calling for an overthrow of

The February Revolution (known as such because of Russia’s use of the

Demonstrators clamoring for bread took to the streets of Petrograd. Supported

The leaders of the provisional government, including young Russian lawyer

On November 6 and 7, 1917 (or October 24 and 25 on the Julian calendar,

The October Revolution followed and capitalized on the February revolution earlier in

Russian Civil War:

On July 16, 1918, the Romanovs were executed by the Bolsheviks.The

Impact of The Russian Revolution: The Russian Revolution paved the

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