RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

1. INTRODUCTION:
The Russian Revolution of 1917 was one of the most explosive political events of the 20th century. It ended
centuries of rule by the Russian kings, and the Romanovs, and introduced a new way of governing led by
the Bolsheviks, with Vladimir Lenin at the helm. This revolution changed Russia into a communist country,
where everyone was supposed to be equal and share everything. It inspired similar movements worldwide
and made Russia a major player on the global stage. Despite its promises of fairness, the revolution also
brought its fair share of problems, like political crackdowns and economic turmoil.

2. RUSSIA BEFORE 20TH CENTURY:

Russia was ruled by an emperor called the Tsar, and the Romanov family was holding this position for
more than three centuries. 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, backward 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.

 Serfdom was Abolished in 1861 under the Alexander II:

The ending of serfdom made a big impact on how things led up to the Russian Revolution. It is
because serfs were freed, peasants had more freedom to come together and demand changes, even
pushing for a revolution.

 Alexander-III Rule (1881):

Alexander II was assassinated by a member of revolutionist group and Alexander III came into
power in 1881. He became really strict and tough on any groups that wanted reforms or revolutions.
This made more people upset and angry, leading to more problems. Moreover, Alexander III’s son,
Nicholas II, came into power in 1894 on death of his father and was the ruler of Russia during the
Russian Revolution in 1917.

 Weather Problem (1891-1892):

Russia was struck by weather problems from 1891 to 1892, leading to a great famine. It led to the
deaths of 350,000 people, which also set the platform or grounds for the Russian Revolution.

 Karl Marx’s Works Influence:

Karl Marx's works came into influence in Russia, which was in stark contrast with the government
of the contemporary era. After reading his works, Lenin became a Marxist leader, eventually
leading to a great revolution.

 Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin) and Russian Socialist-Democratic Labor Party (RSDLP):
Due to the repression of the Russian government, revolutionaries were forced to escape or function
underground where they formed a party called the Russian Socialist-Democratic Labor Party
(RSDLP) in 1898-1903. Afterward, RSDLP was divided into two groups: the Mensheviks, led by
Julius Martov, and the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin.

Lenin wanted a party made up of full-time professional revolutionaries who were experts in their
field. He thought this would make the movement stronger, but Martov disagreed, wanting a party
that included lots of regular people, like other social-democratic parties in Western Europe.
 This caused a split. Lenin's group, even though they were actually the minority, called themselves
the Bolsheviks, meaning 'Those of the Majority.' Martov's group became the Mensheviks, meaning
'Those of the Minority,' even though they were more numerous.

3. RUSSIA IN 20TH CENTURY:

 Bloody Sunday (1905): After the serfs were freed in 1861 by Tsar Alexander II in Russia, many
of them moved to the cities to work in factories. They had to work long hours (12h-15h) for low
pay in unsafe factories. Their bosses were often mean and treated them badly. This made the
workers angry, and they started protesting and striking to demand better conditions from Tsar
Nicholas II, but soldiers shot at them, even though they were unarmed. According to Blom (2008,
p. 148), between October 1905 and April 1906, an estimated 15,000 peasants and workers were
either hanged or shot; 20,000 were injured and 45,000 were sent into exile. Many think Bloody
Sunday started the 1905 Revolution and played a big part in the Russian Revolution of 1917.

 Russia and World War-I: Russia entered into World War I 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.

In 1915, Czar Nicholas II left Petrograd (St. Petersburg) to lead the Russian Army, but things did
not go well. Russia was not as strong as Germany, and lots of Russian soldiers were hurt or killed.
There was not enough food or fuel for people, and prices kept going up. The war messed up Russia's
economy really bad.

In 1917, Russia was in turmoil. Many people, including moderates and radical groups, were
unhappy with the ruler, Czar Nicholas II. They wanted change, so two revolutions happened that
year:
1. February Revolution.
2. October Revolution (Bolshevik Revolution).
4. FEBRUARY REVOLUTION (27 Feb 1917):
In February in Petrograd, a lot of people were hungry and upset because they did not have enough bread to
eat. They went out onto the streets to protest, and they were joined by many factory workers who were on
strike. They got into fights with the police but did not back down. They stayed on the streets until things
started to change.

 On March 11, the army in Petrograd was sent to stop the protest. Some soldiers started shooting at
the protesters, and some people got hurt or killed but the protesters did not stop; they stayed on the
streets. The soldiers got unsure about what to do next because the protesters did not give up.

 With no Military backing, Nicholas II abdicated the throne on 2 March 1917.

 A Provisional Government, the Duma formed on March 12, 1917.

 The Provisional Government (Mensheviks): After the February Revolution, a group led by a
lawyer named Alexander Kerensky took charge. They promised freedoms like speech and fair
treatment, but they didn't want a violent revolution.
  However, Kerensky, who was also the Minister of War, kept Russia in World War I, which made
people even angrier because they were already struggling for food. Peasants started stealing food,
and riots happened in cities.

 Another group called the Soviets, made up of workers and peasants, did not like the provisional
government because they wanted more say in decisions. Meanwhile, Lenin, who had been in exile,
came back and started leading the peasants.

5. OCTOBER REVOLUTION (Bolshevik Revolution):

When the provisional government refused to distribute the land fairly, the peasants took the matter into their
own hands. They started to support Lenin and his party.

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.
(“D'état” French term, coup d’état refers to a sudden, often violent, and illegal seizure of power from a
government, typically by a small group such as the military or a political faction).

The provisional government was made by a group of leaders from Russia’s bourgeois capitalist class. Lenin
instead wanted a different kind of government, one run by councils of soldiers, peasants, and workers. His
group, the Bolsheviks, took over important buildings in Petrograd and made their government. Lenin
became the boss of this new government, and it was the first communist government ever. However, this
revolution led to a civil war in Russia.

6. 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 Lenin’s Bolshevik government. The White Army represented a large
group of loosely allied forces, including monarchists, capitalists, and supporters of democratic
socialism.

 The Russian Civil War ended in 1923 with Lenin’s Red Army claiming victory and establishing the
Soviet Union.

7. CONSEQUENCES OF RUSSIAN REVOLUTION:

Positive Consequences:

 Readjustments in Military Policies: Russia stopped fighting in World War I, which helped the
country's economy because they were not losing money on the war anymore. Soldiers could go
home to their families and work, instead of risking their lives in battles. It led to the happiness of
families to be together again, and men did not have to worry about being forced into the army.
Additionally, the Bolsheviks, who were in charge, got rid of bad military leaders and made the army
better. By making peace and signing treaties, Russia helped bring an end to the war.

 Economic Recovery: Russia faced high inflation because its transportation system collapsed,
causing a shortage of resources, but under Stalin's leadership, they introduced the Five-Year Plans
 that boosted exports and improved the economy. They also modernized farming and industry, which
helped a lot.
 Allocation of Land to Peasants: After the Russian Revolution, the government implemented
reforms to benefit the people. Peasants received land, workers gained control of factories, and job
opportunities increased. Due to this, the economy was stabilized, and key industries like railways
and banks were nationalized to prevent the wealthy from abusing their power.

 Establishment of the Soviet Union: After the Russian Revolution, Russia and its neighboring
countries, like Ukraine and Belarus, came together to form a new country called the Soviet Union
(USSR) in 1922. This union grew to include more countries in Europe and Asia, making it a
powerful and connected group. Under Stalin's leadership, the USSR became a strong communist
state, sharing resources and achieving big goals like free education for all. The countries worked
closely together, combining their cultures and resolving territorial disputes, creating a unified and
powerful nation.

 Promotion of Communism & Revolution: Russia's success with communism inspired other
countries to adopt the same system. China, led by Mao, was a notable example, combining
communism with its unique approach called Maoism. Other countries, like Germany and Hungary,
attempted short-lived revolutions to overthrow their existing governments. The Russian Revolution
also led to the formation of the Communist International (Comintern), an organization that
supported the creation of communist parties and regimes worldwide. This promotion of
communism spread the values of equality and unity across many countries, influencing political
movements globally.

Negative Consequences:

 Increase Conflict with Capitalistic Countries: The formation of the Soviet Union and its
communist ideology led to a division between communist and capitalist countries, particularly
between the Western World (led by the US) and the Communist World (led by the USSR). This
division sparked conflicts and tensions, culminating in the Cold War (1947-1991). The US and
USSR engaged in fierce competition in technology, military power, and ideology, leading to an
arms race and widespread fear of war. This period was marked by a constant state of political and
military tension, with both sides vying for supremacy.