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Russian Revolution

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The Russian Revolution, which is dated 1917, is considered one of the most important events of the 20th century. The long-standing monarchy came to be replaced by the first constitutional communist state in the world. The Russian Revolution had two revolutions in 1917, the first one was in February, with the overthrow of the imperial government and the second was in October, which placed the Bolsheviks in power. The main reasons for the Russian Revolution included increased governmental corruption, the reactionary policies of Tsar Nicolas II, and the huge losses of Russia in World War I.

Russisan-Revolution

Russian Revolution

Background of the Russian Revolution

Back in 1900, Russia was the most economically backward and least industrialized nation in Europe, with a huge population of peasants and a growing number of industrial workers. Some remains of feudalism, in the form of “serfdom”, were still practiced in Russia. Serfdom refers to a system where the landless peasants had been forced to serve the land-owing gentry. It was only in 1861 that serfdom came to be abolished. This emancipation of the serfs led to a series of events that led to the Russian Revolution in a few years.

1905 Russian Revolution

The Industrial Revolution came to Russia later than the rest of Europe, but when it came, the population doubled in urban areas, such as in St. Petersburg and Moscow, which put strain on the infrastructure of cities and led to overcrowding and pollution. There was a new level of destitution of the working class. Due to years of economic mismanagement and costly wars, there were chronic shortages all around the country from time to time.

On January 22, 1905, workers came to march to winter palace of Tsar Nicholas II on January 22 on 1905. Tsar Nicholas II even though not present in crowd, but did gave the command to shoot on unarmed crowd. When the crowd approached with huge number, the Russian troops came to open fire, which killed many people and this came to be known as Bloody Sunday Massacre.

This massacre came to spark Russian revolution on 1905, with many strikes throughout the country and this affected the Russian economy, which was already fragile. Nicolas II had no choice and had agreed to implement the reforms, which came to be known as October manifesto. Nicholas kept delaying them for not losing grip of power, he dissolved Russian parliament which he promised to implement. Significant changes did not come out of 1905, however certain events of Bloody Sunday came to alienate the Tsar from the people.

Events of World War I

In 1914, war broke out between two European alliances: Germany, Austria, and Turkey (the Central Powers) and France, Britain, and Russia (the Allied Powers) (later Italy and Romania). Each country had a global empire, and the war was fought both inside and outside of Europe.  People in Russia initially supported Tsar Nicholas II during the war. However, as the war progressed, the Tsar refused to consult with the major parties in the Duma. Support had worn thin.

Anti-German sentiments were strong, as evidenced by the renaming of St Petersburg, a German name, as Petrograd. The autocracy was unpopular due to Tsarina Alexandra’s German ancestry and inept advisers, particularly a monk named Rasputin. The ‘eastern front’ of the First World War differed from the ‘western front.’ Armies fought from trenches that stretched across eastern France in the west.

Armies moved quickly in the east, fighting battles that resulted in heavy casualties. Losses were both shocking and demoralising. Between 1914 and 1916, Russia’s armies suffered crushing defeats in Germany and Austria. By 1917, there had been over 7 million casualties. The Russian army destroyed crops and buildings as they retreated to prevent the enemy from living off the land. The destruction of crops and buildings, which resulted in over 3 million refugees in Russia, tainted the government and the Tsar. Soldiers desire to fight in such a war. The war had a significant impact on the industry as well. Russia’s own industries were few, and German control of the Baltic Sea cut the country off from other suppliers of industrial goods.

In Russia, industrial equipment disintegrated faster than in the rest of Europe. Men who could fight were called up. As a result, there were labour shortages, and small workshops producing necessities were forced to close. Grain supplies were sent in large quantities to feed the army. Bread and flour became scarce among city dwellers. Bread shop riots were common by the winter of 1916.

February Revolution

On 8th March 1917, the February revolution had began and since russians used Julian calendar, it is known as February Revolution. Protestors took to streets at St. Peterburg over prolonged food shortages and industrial workers joined too. On March 11th, troops were called to quell the protestors but the uprising continued without stop.

The Duma or Russian parliament, formed a provisional government on 12th march and Nicholas II had abdicated the throne. New government under Alexander Kerensky had been established with statette of rights, despite which he continued the war with Germany despite popular opposition to it. This worsened the food supply problems and peasants looted farms and food riots erupted all over the cities.

October Revolution

On 24th and 25th October of 1917, according to Julian calendar, communist revolutionaries which were led by Vladimir Lenin had launched a coup against the Kerensky government and a new government under Lenin had been composed of council of soldiers, peasants and workers. The Bolsheviks and allies occupied key locations across Peterburg and Russia, and a new government was shaped with Lenin at head and became dictator of first communist state.

Civil War had broken in Russia by late 1917, where the red fractions of communist and socialists fought with monarchists, capitalists and democrats, also known as white fractions. The war ended on 1923 with Lenin red army claimed victory, forming communist super state: The Soviet Union.

Causes for Russian Revolution

The causes of russian revolution are as follows:

  • Some of the major reasons for this revolution were a lack of food supply, the effects of Blood Sunday, and World War I on Russia and its economy and society. One of the major causes of the revolution was an autocracy.
  • Czar Alexander II became well-known in Russia after instituting some reforms. However, his successors, such as Czar Alexander III and Czar Nicholas II, became extremely autocratic.
  • Various political parties, including Meer, Jemstvo, and Duma, lost power during their reign. There was already unrest in society, and their policies and actions exacerbated it. As a result, one of the major reasons was the Czars’ autocratic rule.
  • Russianization of all systems was a policy that Czar Alexander III and his son Czar Nicholas II upheld.
  • According to this policy, only the Catholic religion and the Russian language were introduced. Even non-Russian regions like Poland, Lithuania, Finland, and others have adopted the Russian language. A major uproar was sparked by this strategy in Russia.
  • This Russian revolution was affected by the industrial revolution as well. The construction of the Trans-Siberian and Trans-Caspian trains, which engaged numerous Russian labourers, sparked the growth of several Russian enterprises and industries.
  • The dream to liberate the nation from the Czars’ authoritarian control emerged as labourers’ consciousness increased.

FAQs on Russian Revolution

What caused the Russian Revolution?

The main causes of the Russian Revolution would include widespread corruption as well as inefficiencies within the imperial government, with growing dissatisfaction of the population and the control of the monarchy.

Who led the Russian Revolution?

The Russian Revolution was led by Bolshevik Revolution under Vladimir Lenin.

When was Russian Revolution start and end?

The Russian Revolution started and ended on 8th March 1917- 16th June 1923.

What do you mean by Bloody Sunday?

Bloody Sunday refers to an incident before 1905 Revolution in Russia. There were a series of violent attacks which took place on this Sunday and ordered by Czarist regime in Russia to fire unarmed civilians.

When did Russian Revolution end?

Russian Revolution ended on 16th June 1923.



Last Updated : 10 Nov, 2023
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