3.6 Russian Revolution

The Russian Revolution marked a seismic shift in global politics, reshaping the 20th century. Stemming from deep-rooted social and economic tensions, it overthrew centuries of Tsarist rule and established the world's first socialist state.

Key figures like Lenin and Tsar Nicholas II played pivotal roles in this tumultuous period. The revolution unfolded in two stages - the February Revolution toppling the Tsar, followed by the Bolshevik-led October Revolution that set the stage for Soviet rule.

Origins of Russian Revolution

• The Russian Revolution marked a pivotal moment in The Modern Period, reshaping global politics and ideologies
• Emerged from long-standing social, economic, and political tensions within the Russian Empire
• Set the stage for the rise of communism as a major force in 20th-century geopolitics

Social conditions in Russia

Top images from around the web for Social conditions in Russia

• 

  A History of Graphic Design: Chapter 63: Posters of the Russian Civil War of 1917-1921 and ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Peasant woman in Perm Province, 1910 | Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Forced-Labor Camps in the Soviet Union - Những trại lao độ… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  A History of Graphic Design: Chapter 63: Posters of the Russian Civil War of 1917-1921 and ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Peasant woman in Perm Province, 1910 | Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Social conditions in Russia

• 

  A History of Graphic Design: Chapter 63: Posters of the Russian Civil War of 1917-1921 and ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Peasant woman in Perm Province, 1910 | Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Forced-Labor Camps in the Soviet Union - Những trại lao độ… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  A History of Graphic Design: Chapter 63: Posters of the Russian Civil War of 1917-1921 and ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Peasant woman in Perm Province, 1910 | Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Vast inequality between peasants and nobility fueled widespread discontent
• Industrialization led to poor working conditions and exploitation of urban laborers
• Famines and economic hardships exacerbated social unrest
• Lack of land ownership rights for peasants created agrarian tensions

Political landscape pre-1917

• Autocratic rule of the Tsarist regime stifled political freedoms
• Growing influence of revolutionary groups (Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, Socialist Revolutionaries)
• Failed 1905 Revolution resulted in limited reforms and continued unrest
• Duma (parliament) established but lacked real power to challenge the Tsar

Impact of World War I

• Military defeats and heavy casualties demoralized Russian troops and civilians
• Economic strain of war effort led to food shortages and inflation
• Tsar Nicholas II's decision to personally lead the army weakened his political position
• War exposed inefficiencies and corruption within the Russian government

Key figures and ideologies

• The Russian Revolution was shaped by competing ideologies and influential leaders
• Represented a clash between traditional autocracy and radical revolutionary ideas
• Highlighted the role of charismatic figures in mobilizing mass movements

Lenin and Bolshevism

• Vladimir Lenin developed and promoted Marxist-inspired Bolshevik ideology
• Advocated for a vanguard party to lead the proletariat revolution
• Emphasized the need for a swift and decisive seizure of power
• Developed theory of imperialism as the highest stage of capitalism
• Promoted the slogan "Peace, Land, and Bread" to gain popular support

Tsar Nicholas II

• Last Emperor of Russia, ruled from 1894 to 1917
• Resisted calls for democratic reforms and modernization
• Believed in divine right of kings and absolute monarchy
• Mishandled major crises (Russo-Japanese War, 1905 Revolution, World War I)
• Abdication in March 1917 marked the end of the 300-year Romanov dynasty

Provisional Government leaders

• Alexander Kerensky emerged as a key figure in the post-Tsar government
• Prince Lvov served as the first Prime Minister of the Provisional Government
• Struggled to balance competing interests of various political factions
• Failed to address pressing issues of land reform and Russia's involvement in World War I
• Lacked strong popular support and effective control over the military

February Revolution 1917

• Marked the first stage of the Russian Revolution, overthrowing the Tsarist regime
• Resulted in the establishment of a provisional government and competing power centers
• Represented a spontaneous uprising rather than a planned revolutionary action

Causes and catalysts

• Severe food shortages in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) sparked initial protests
• International Women's Day demonstrations on March 8 (February 23 in Julian calendar) grew into mass strikes
• Industrial workers joined with soldiers in challenging government authority
• Collapse of military discipline as troops refused to suppress civilian protests

Fall of the Tsar

• Tsar Nicholas II initially dismissed the unrest as a minor disturbance
• Military commanders and political allies advised the Tsar to abdicate
• Nicholas II abdicated on March 15, 1917, ending the Romanov dynasty
• Grand Duke Michael briefly considered as successor but declined the throne

Dual power structure

• Provisional Government formed to establish democratic rule
• Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies emerged as a rival power center
• Soviet Order No. 1 gave the Soviet control over the military in Petrograd
• Tension between these two bodies created a unstable political situation
• Bolsheviks gained influence in the Soviets while criticizing the Provisional Government

October Revolution 1917

• Also known as the Bolshevik Revolution or Red October
• Marked the second and decisive stage of the Russian Revolution
• Led to the establishment of the world's first socialist state

Bolshevik seizure of power

• Occurred on November 7 (October 25 in Julian calendar) 1917
• Red Guards and revolutionary soldiers occupied key points in Petrograd
• Winter Palace, seat of the Provisional Government, captured with minimal resistance
• Bolsheviks quickly consolidated power in major cities and industrial centers
• Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets ratified the transfer of power to the Bolsheviks

Lenin's April Theses

• Lenin's political program presented upon his return to Russia in April 1917
• Called for immediate withdrawal from World War I ("Peace")
• Demanded redistribution of land to the peasants ("Land")
• Advocated for workers' control of industry and food distribution ("Bread")
• Rejected cooperation with the Provisional Government
• Popularized the slogan "All Power to the Soviets"

Petrograd Soviet vs Provisional Government

• Petrograd Soviet gained support from workers and soldiers
• Provisional Government struggled to implement reforms while continuing the war effort
• Bolsheviks exploited the weaknesses of the Provisional Government
• July Days uprising temporarily weakened Bolshevik influence
• Kornilov Affair in August discredited the Provisional Government and strengthened the Bolsheviks

Civil War and aftermath

• Followed the October Revolution as various factions fought for control of Russia
• Resulted in the consolidation of Bolshevik power and the formation of the Soviet state
• Had devastating consequences for Russia's population and economy

Red Army vs White Army

• Red Army, led by Leon Trotsky, represented the Bolshevik forces
• White Army consisted of various anti-Bolshevik groups (monarchists, liberals, moderate socialists)
• Foreign powers intervened on behalf of the White Army (Britain, France, Japan, USA)
• Red Army's centralized command and control of industrial centers proved decisive
• Conflict lasted from 1917 to 1922, with Bolsheviks emerging victorious

War Communism

• Economic policy implemented by the Bolsheviks during the Civil War
• Included nationalization of all industries and strict centralized control
• Forced requisitioning of grain from peasants to feed the cities and army
• Led to widespread famine and economic collapse
• Created tension between the Bolsheviks and the peasantry

Formation of Soviet Union

• Treaty on the Creation of the USSR signed on December 30, 1922
• Initially included Russian SFSR, Ukrainian SSR, Byelorussian SSR, and Transcaucasian SFSR
• Established a federal system with centralized control in Moscow
• Created new political institutions (Supreme Soviet, Council of People's Commissars)
• Laid the foundation for the Soviet state that would last until 1991

Global impact

• The Russian Revolution had far-reaching consequences beyond Russia's borders
• Influenced political movements and ideologies worldwide throughout the 20th century
• Shaped international relations and the global balance of power

Spread of communist ideology

• Inspired communist and socialist movements in Europe, Asia, and Latin America
• Led to the formation of the Communist International (Comintern) in 1919
• Influenced anti-colonial struggles in Africa and Asia
• Provided a model for revolutionary change in other countries (China, Cuba)
• Sparked fears of global communist expansion in Western nations

International reactions

• Western powers intervened in the Russian Civil War to support anti-Bolshevik forces
• Many countries refused to recognize the Soviet government initially
• Fear of communist revolution led to "Red Scares" in the United States and Europe
• Influenced the rise of fascism as a reactionary force against communism
• Soviet Russia faced diplomatic isolation in the early years after the revolution

Russian Revolution in historiography

• Debates over the nature of the revolution (popular uprising vs Bolshevik coup)
• Revisionist historians challenged traditional Soviet narratives
• Cold War-era scholarship often influenced by ideological biases
• Post-Soviet access to archives led to new interpretations and research
• Ongoing discussions about the revolution's long-term impact on Russia and the world

Cultural and social changes

• The Russian Revolution ushered in radical transformations in Russian society
• Aimed to create a new socialist culture and way of life
• Challenged traditional social hierarchies and cultural norms

Women's rights advancements

• Bolsheviks promoted gender equality as a key revolutionary goal
• Legalized divorce and abortion, making Russia a pioneer in women's rights
• Encouraged women's participation in the workforce and politics
• Established state-run childcare to support working mothers
• Alexandra Kollontai became one of the world's first female government ministers

Education and literacy campaigns

• Mass literacy campaigns (Likbez) aimed to eradicate illiteracy
• Expansion of free, universal education system
• Promotion of socialist ideology through educational curriculum
• Creation of workers' clubs and reading rooms to spread revolutionary ideas
• Development of new pedagogical approaches (Krupskaya, Makarenko)

Religious policy shifts

• Separation of church and state, with religion declared a private matter
• Confiscation of church property and persecution of clergy
• Promotion of atheism through "League of the Militant Godless"
• Suppression of traditional religious practices and holidays
• Attempts to replace religious ceremonies with secular "red" alternatives

Economic transformations

• The Russian Revolution led to fundamental changes in Russia's economic structure
• Aimed to create a socialist planned economy based on Marxist principles
• Experienced periods of radical change and pragmatic adjustments

Land redistribution

• Decree on Land abolished private ownership of land
• Redistributed land from nobility and church to peasants
• Created collective farms (kolkhozy) and state farms (sovkhozy)
• Led to initial increase in agricultural production, followed by later declines
• Caused conflicts with kulaks (wealthy peasants) during collectivization

Nationalization of industry

• Bolsheviks took control of major industries, banks, and transportation
• Workers' control committees established in factories
• Creation of Supreme Council of National Economy (Vesenkha) to manage industry
• Led to initial declines in industrial production due to disruption and lack of expertise
• Laid the groundwork for later Soviet industrialization drives

New Economic Policy (NEP)

• Introduced by Lenin in 1921 as a temporary retreat from War Communism
• Allowed limited private enterprise and market mechanisms
• Peasants permitted to sell surplus after paying tax in kind
• Small-scale private businesses (NEPmen) emerged in urban areas
• Resulted in economic recovery but created ideological tensions within the party

Legacy of Russian Revolution

• The Russian Revolution's impact continued long after the events of 1917
• Shaped global politics and ideologies throughout the 20th century
• Continues to influence modern Russia and international relations

Soviet political system

• Established one-party rule under the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
• Created a centralized bureaucratic state with limited political freedoms
• Developed the concept of "democratic centralism" within the party structure
• Influenced political systems in other communist countries (Eastern Europe, China)
• Left a legacy of authoritarian governance that persists in some post-Soviet states

Cold War origins

• Ideological conflict between Soviet communism and Western capitalism
• Formation of opposing military alliances (NATO vs Warsaw Pact)
• Nuclear arms race and doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction
• Proxy wars and conflicts in developing countries (Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan)
• Space race as a demonstration of technological and ideological superiority

Modern Russia and revolution's influence

• Collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to reassessment of revolutionary legacy
• Debates over Stalin's role and the costs of Soviet modernization
• Resurgence of Russian nationalism and attempts to reconcile imperial and Soviet past
• Continued influence of socialist ideas in Russian politics and society
• Global perception of Russia shaped by its revolutionary and Soviet history