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Russian Revolution Background

The Russian Revolution in 1917 led to the overthrow of Tsar Nicholas II and the rise of the Bolsheviks, culminating in a coup against the Provisional Government. Joseph Stalin, initially a follower of Lenin, rose to power after Lenin's death in 1924, establishing a dictatorship characterized by state-organized industrialization and severe repression. Despite his brutal regime, Stalin played a significant role in the Soviet Union's contribution to the Allied victory in World War II.

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10 views3 pages

Russian Revolution Background

The Russian Revolution in 1917 led to the overthrow of Tsar Nicholas II and the rise of the Bolsheviks, culminating in a coup against the Provisional Government. Joseph Stalin, initially a follower of Lenin, rose to power after Lenin's death in 1924, establishing a dictatorship characterized by state-organized industrialization and severe repression. Despite his brutal regime, Stalin played a significant role in the Soviet Union's contribution to the Allied victory in World War II.

Uploaded by

Sami Sami Ullah Jan
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Russian Revolution and the Rise of Joseph Stalin

Presented by the Hampton Roads Naval Museum

The Russian Revolution

In 1917, two events changed Russia’s future forever: the overthrow of the
imperial government in February, followed by the Bolsheviks’ rise to power in
October and November. These events resulted from deteriorating relations
between the vast
majority of the people of
Russia and the Tsar. The
final straw was the Tsar’s
handling of WWI,
particularly because he
took full control over the
army as opposed to
letting his generals make
strategic decisions.
Russia suffered
overwhelming casualties
under the Tsar’s
leadership. The war also
caused great economic
loss for Russia. The
people of Russia were
suffering and desperate
for change. What had been one of the most powerful nations for almost three
hundred years, under the Romanov dynasty, was on the brink of collapse under
the new leadership. Tsar Nicholas II was forced to renounce his throne and a
provisional government put in place. He and his family were executed.
Immediately, tensions rose between the provisional government and Petrograd
Soviet, a local City Council that was gaining authority.

The Bolsheviks

In October/November of 1917, the Bolsheviks and Left Socialist Revolutionaries


staged a coup. Hardly any resistance was met from the Provisional Government,
which was headed by Aleksandr F. Kerensky. Under Kerensky, the left wing split
and formed the Socialist Revolutionary Party (SRP). The SRP and Mensheviks, the
opposing party of the Bolsheviks, would make up the majority in Petrograd and
Moscow Soviets. Behind the
scenes during the October
Revolution, and one of its most
avid spokesmen, was Vladimir
Lenin. In Lenin’s writings, he
called for the Bolsheviks to halt
their support of the Provisional
Government. He called for the
party to come together with
peasants, workers, and
soldiers, thus uniting the
Soviets against the Provisional
Government. The Party’s slogan became “All Power to the Soviets.” The Bolshevik
wing of the Russian Social Democratic Workers Party had gained a monopoly over
the entire political system in 1917. The Bolsheviks changed their name twice
before WWII: The Russian Communist Party, and then the ALL-Union Communist
Party. Still, their ideology remained the same.

Joseph Stalin

Joseph Stalin was a Georgian from the town of Gori. In 1903, following the break
between Bolshevik and Menshevik, Stalin became a dedicated follower of Lenin.
In 1912, Lenin promoted Stalin to serve on the first Central Committee of the

2
Bolshevik Party. He also became editor of the Bolshevik newspaper Pravda before
being exiled from July 1913 to March 1917 for political reasons. Stalin was
involved in the October Revolution, but not as much as he would claim to have
been in his later life. Stalin became the most prominent figure when he became
Secretary-General of the Central Committee, despite the fact that he strong-
armed his way into the position. Before Lenin died, he called for Stalin’s removal.
Stalin had gained a bad reputation, but it did not deter him from seeking more
power. Lenin died in
January 1924. From his
death rose something
reminiscent of a cult
following. The term
“Leninism” was coined and
Stalin was its leader. Stalin
had all of his rivals either
exiled or murdered,
including his chief rival,
Leon Trotsky, who was
assassinated in 1940.
Quickly, Stalin drifted from
Lenin’s economic ideals to
more state-organized
industrialization (fascism),
whereas Lenin had a little
more capitalism in his
economic plan for Russia.
By 1928, Stalin had become
a dictator by definition. His
reign consisted of famine
and genocide. Despite the
crimes he committed
against his own people, the
Soviet Union was one of the chief Allied powers, along with Great Britain and the
United States, helping to thwart the rise of Nazi Germany during the Second
World War.

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