Russian Revolution of 1917

The Russian Revolution of 1917 was a political movement in Russia that climaxed in 1917 with the overthrow of the provisional government that had replaced the Russian Tsar system, and led to the establishment of the Soviet Union, which lasted until its collapse in 1991. The Revolution can be viewed in two distinct phases. The first one was that of the February Revolution of 1917, which displaced the autocracy of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the last effective Tsar of Russia, and sought to establish in its place a liberal republic. The second phase was the October Revolution, in which the Soviets, inspired and increasingly controlled by Vladimir Lenin's Bolshevik party, seized power from the Provisional Government. The revolution affected both the urban areas and the countryside. While many notable historical events occurred in Moscow and St. Petersburg, there was also a broadbased movement in the rural areas as peasants seized and redistributed land.

The Causes of the Russian Revolution – Political, Social, Economic

The Russian Revolution was one of the most important events in modern world history. Its impact was evident in both Europe and America. Although Communism did not spread directly as a result of the Russian Revolution, it did spread indirectly to third world countries. Russia served as the model for third world countries to modernize their government through Communism. In addition, the fear of Communism spreading to America during the Cold War also portrays the immense global impact of the Russian Revolution. In any case, the Russian Revolutions of 1917 were broken down into two main parts: the overthrow of the czarist regime (February Revolution) and the creation of the world’s first Communist state (October Revolution). The causes of these two revolutions encompass Russia’s political, social, and economic situation. Politically, the people of Russian resented the dictatorship of Czar Nicholas II. The losses that the Russian suffered during World War I further weakened Russia’s view of Nicholas. Socially, the despotic czarist regime had oppressed the peasant class for centuries. This caused unrest within the lower peasant class causing riots to break out. Economically, widespread inflation and famine in Russia contributed to the revolution. Ultimately, weaknesses in Russian polity, society and economy were the causes of the Russian Revolution.

The political causes of the Russian Revolution were mainly brought on by the dictatorship of Czar Nicholas II and Russia’s losses during World War I. Prior to the war, the educated classes (many educated in the West) of Russia resented the autocracy of Nicholas. After Russia had suffered staggering losses in World War I, however, the lower, uneducated classes came to despise him. In 1915, Nicholas took over command of the army, leaving his incapable wife Alexandra in charge of the government. By the end of October 1916, Russia had lost between 1.6 and 1.8 million soldiers, with an addition two million prisoners of war and one million who had gone missing. One can deduce that when one million men went missing, the morale of the Russian Army was not very high. Mutinies began to occur, and in 1916 reports of fraternizing with the enemy began to come in. Soldiers went hungry and lacked shoes, munitions, and even weapons. Rampant discontent lowered morale, only to be undermined by a series of military defeats. As this discontent and utter hate of Nicholas grew, the Duma (lower class of Russian parliament comprised of landowners, townspeople, industrial workers, and peasants) issued a warning to Nicholas in November 1916 stating that disaster would overtake the country unless a constitutional form of government was put in place. Nicholas, however, ignored this. As a result, the czarist regime in Russia collapsed a few months later during the February Revolution of 1917. In sum, Nicholas’s ineptness in handling World War I caused mass disorder within Russia and eventually led to the collapse of the czarist regime.

The social causes of the Russian Revolution mainly stemmed from centuries of oppression towards the lower classes and World War I. The peasant population of Russia, making up about 85% of the entire population of Russia, had been under harsh oppression from the upper classes and the czarist regime. Many would associate serfdom with the Middle Ages. However, something very similar to serfdom was still going on in Russia in the nineteenth century. A small class of noble landowners controlled a vast number of indentured peasants. In 1861, Czar Alexander emancipated these peasants not for moral reasons, but because it was preventing Russia from advancing socially. Even though they lived under better conditions, the peasants were still dissatisfied since they had no land to work. As a result, the government drafted new terms that gave the peasants a certain amount of land to cultivate. However, the amount of land they were given was insufficient, thus mass riots broke out. This growing discontent among the peasants was only added to with the effects of World War I. The vast demand for factory production of war supplies and workers caused many labor riots and strikes. In addition, because of the fact that more factory workers were needed, peasants moved out of the country and into the cities. The cities soon became overpopulated and living conditions rapidly grew worse. Furthermore, as more food was needed for the soldiers, the food supply behind the front grew scare. By 1917, famine threatened many of the larger cities. Overall, all of the aforementioned contributed to the vast discontent of the Russian citizens, which further made it necessary for a revolution.

The economic causes of the Russian Revolution were brought on almost entirely by World War I. Over fifteen million men joined the army, leaving an insufficient number of workers in the factories and on the farms. As a result, there were widespread shortages on food and materials. The railway network and transportation system grew inefficient and disorganized. What few stores were available could not get to where they needed to be quickly. As goods became more and more scarce, prices skyrocketed. Moreover, by 1917 famine threatened many of the larger cities. In the factories, workers had to endure terrible working conditions, twelve to fourteen hour days, and very low wages. Many riots and strikes for better conditions and higher wages broke out. Some factories agreed to the requests for higher wages, but wartime inflation nullified the increase. Although the economic causes did not play as big a role as the political and social causes, they did nevertheless contribute in some way to the revolution.

In conclusion, it is evident that World War I played a highly significant role in the causes of the Russian Revolution. Nicholas’s horrible leadership during the wartime caused mass turbulence and disgruntlement within Russia. However, the blame cannot be put entirely on one man. For centuries, the czars of Russia had oppressed the lower peasant classes. Until Alexander abolished the form of serfdom Russia instituted, no attempts to advance as a nation had been made. Nevertheless, the losses sustained during World War I and the resulting elevation of strife within Russia under Czar Nicholas II’s leadership remain the main cause of the Russian Revolution.

February Revolution

Main article: February Revolution.

The February Revolution came about almost spontaneously when people of Petrograd protested against the Czarist regime because of food shortages in the city.

There was also great dissatisfaction with Russia's continued involvement in the First World War. As the protests grew, various political reformists (both liberal and radical left) started to coordinate some activity. In early February the protests turned violent as large numbers of city residents rioted and clashed with police and soldiers. When the bulk of the soldiers garrisoned in the Russian capital Petrograd joined the protests, they turned into a revolution ultimately leading to the abdication of Czar Nicholas II in a nearly bloodless transition of power.

A new Provisional Government was formed, also called the Duma, while elections were being planned. Between February and October revolutionists attempted to foment further change, working through the Petrograd Soviet or more directly. In July, the Petrograd Bolsheviks, in combination with the Petrograd anarchists, fomented a civil revolt. This revolt failed.

October Revolution

Main article: October Revolution.

The October Revolution was led by Lenin and was based upon the ideas of Karl Marx. It marked the beginning of the spread of communism in the twentieth century. It was far less sporadic than the revolution of February and came about as the result of deliberate planning and coordinated activity to that end. On November 7, 1917, Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin led his leftist revolutionaries in a nearly bloodless revolt against the ineffective Provisional Government (Russia was still using the Julian Calendar at the time, so period references show an October 25 date). The October Revolution ended the phase of the revolution instigated in February, replacing Russia's short-lived democratic government with a bolshevik one. Although many bolsheviks (such as Leon Trotsky) supported a soviet democracy, the 'reform from above' model gained definitive power when Lenin died and Stalin gained control of the USSR. Trotsky and his supporters, as well as a number of other democratically-minded communists, were persecuted and eventually imprisoned or killed.

After October 1917, many Esers (Socialist-Revolutionaries) and Russian Anarchists opposed the Bolsheviks through the soviets. When this failed, they revolted in a series of events calling for "a third revolution." The most notable instances were the Tambov rebellion, 1919 – 1921, and the Kronstadt rebellion in March 1921. These movements, which made a wide range of demands and lacked effective coordination, were eventually crushed during the Civil War.

Civil war

Main article: Russian Civil War.

The Russian Civil War, which broke out in 1918 shortly after the revolution, brought death and suffering to millions of people regardless of their political orientation. The war was fought mainly between the "Reds", the communists and revolutionaries, and the "Whites" – the monarchists, conservatives, liberals and socialists who opposed the Bolshevik Revolution. The Whites had backing from nations such as the UK and USA.

Also during the Civil War, Nestor Makhno led a Ukrainian anarchist movement which generally cooperated with the Bolsheviks. However, a Bolshevik force under Mikhail Frunze destroyed the Makhnovist movement, when the Makhnovists refused to merge into the Red Army. In addition, the so-called "Green Army" (nationalists and anarchists) played a secondary role in the war, mainly in Ukraine.

Why did the Whites lose the War?

Lack of unity: Whites were not as united and organized as the Reds

Geography: Russian Capital was moved from St. Petersburg to Moscow to the advantage of the Reds

Secret Police: Reds had a well organized secret police to eliminate opposition

Leadership: Leon Trotsky organized a red army by drafting in the red-controlled areas

Organization: The Reds promised the workers control of the factories

Nationalism: The Reds claimed they were nationalistic because the Whites were getting support from foreign nations such as France, Germany, and England

Final remarks

Recent followers of Stalin (like TKP in Turkey) argue that Socialism in One Country should be taken as a political argument than a description of socialism.
After the fall of the revolution in Europe (during the 20s) the only way for the Soviets was to strengthen the political base of the revolution and build up a socialist economy,so that the Soviet revolution could be a base for the world revolution.
This statement finds itself strong support in the events of the World War II.
During the 30s, the Soviets succeeded in building a strong economy around the workers' state. This made it possible for the progressive forces in Europe to defeat fascism. Actually Socialism in One Country was the way to a socialist system which covered about a half of the world.<p> Most of Trotsky's followers (Trotskyst orthodoxy in general) do not prefer the term state capitalism, they rather cathogorize USSR (after Stalin) as a degenerated worker's state.<p> One could argue that, the collapse of the Soviet Union, did not only show the weak points of the Soviet socialism, but also made it possible for us to see the benefits of socialism for the working class of the Soviet countries.<p>

Brief Chronology leading to Revolution of 1917

Dates are correct for the Julian calendar, which was used in Russia until 1918. It was twelve days behind the Gregorian calendar during the 19th century and thirteen days behind it during the 20th century.

• 1855 – Start of reign of Tsar Alexander II
• 1861 – Emancipation of the serfs
• 1866-74 – The White Terror -->*1881 – Alexander II assassinated; Succeeded by Alexander III
• 1883 – First Russian Marxist group formed
• 1894 – Start of reign of Nicholas II
• 1898 – First Congress of Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP)
• 1900 – Foundation of Socialist Revolutionary Party (SR)
• 1903 – Second Congress of Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. Beginning of split between Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.
• 1904-5 – Russo-Japanese War
• 1905 – Russian Revolution of 1905.

January – Bloody Sunday in St. Petersburg.

June – Battleship Potemkin uprising at Odessa on the Black Sea (see movie The Battleship Potemkin)

October – general strike, St Petersburg soviet formed

 – Imperial agreement on elections to the State Duma – October Manifesto

• 1906 – First State Duma. Prime Minister – Petr Stolypin. Agrarian reforms begin
• 1907 – Second State Duma, February – June
• 1907 – Third State Duma, until 1912
• 1911 – Stolypin assassinated
• 1912 – Fourth State Duma, until 1917. Bolshevik – Menshevik split final
• 1914 – Germany declares war on Russia
• 1915 – Serious defeats, Nicholas II declares himself Commander in Chief. Progressive Bloc formed.
• 1916 – Gregory Rasputin killed

Expanded Chronology of Revolution of 1917

January

Strikes and unrest in Petrograd

February

February Revolution

26th — 50 demonstrators killed in Znamenskaya Square

27th — Troops refuse to fire on demonstrators, desertions. Prison, courts, and police stations attacked and looted by angry crowds.

Okhranka buildings set on fire. Garrison joins revolutionaries.

Petrograd Soviet formed.

March

1st — Order No.1 of the Petrograd Soviet

2nd — Nicholas II abdicates. Provisional Government formed under Prime Minister Prince Lvov

April

3rd — Return of Lenin to Russia. He publishes his April Theses.

20th — Miliukov's note published. Provisional Government falls.

May

5th — New Provisional Government formed. Kerensky made minister of war and navy

June

3rd — First All-Russian Congress of Soviets in Petrograd. Closed on 24th.

16th — Kerensky orders offensive against Austro-Hungarian forces. Initial success.

July

2nd — Russian offensive ends. Trotsky joins Bolsheviks.

4th — Anti-government demonstrations in Petrograd

6th — German and Austro-Hungarian counter-attack. Russians retreat in panic, sacking the town of Tarnopol. Arrest of Bolshevik leaders ordered.

7th — Lvov resigns. Kerensky is new PM

22nd — Trotsky and Lunacharskii arrested

August

26th — Second coalition government ends

27th — General Lavr Kornilov failed coup. Kornilov arrested and imprisoned.

September

1st — Russia declared a republic

4th — Trotsky and others freed. Trotsky becomes head of Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies.

25th — Third coalition government formed

October

10th — Bolshevik Central Committee meeting approves armed uprising

11th — Congress of Soviets of the Northern Region, until 13th

20th — First meeting of the Military Revolutionary Committee (Revolutionary Soviet Committee) of the Petrograd Soviet

25th — October Revolution is launched as MRC directs armed workers and soldiers to capture key buildings in Petrograd. Winter Palace attacked at 9.40pm and captured at 2am. Kerensky flees Petrograd. Opening of the 2nd All-Russian Congress of Soviets.

26th — Second Congress of Soviets: Mensheviks and right SR delegates walk out in protest against the previous day's events. Decree on Peace and Decree on Land. Soviet government declared – the Council of People's Commissars (Bolshevik dominated with Lenin as chairman).

Bibliography

Participants' accounts

• Reed, John. Ten Days that Shook the World. 1919, 1st Edition, published by BONI & Liveright, Inc. for International Publishers. Transcribed and marked by David Walters for John Reed Internet Archive. Penguin Books; 1st edition. June 1, 1980. ISBN 0140182934. Retrieved May 14, 2005.
• Serge, Victor. Year One of the Russian Revolution. L'An l de la revolution russe, 1930. Year One of the Russian Revolution, Holt, Reinhart, and Winston. Translation, editor's Introduction, and notes © 1972 by Peter Sedgwick. Reprinted on Victor Serge Internet Archive by permission. ISBN 0863161502. Retrieved May 14, 2005.
• Trotsky, Leon. The History of the Russian Revolution. Translated by Max Eastman, 1932. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 8083994. ISBN 0913460834. Transcribed for the World Wide Web by John Gowland (Australia), Alphanos Pangas (Greece) and David Walters (United States). Pathfinder Press edition. June 1, 1980. ISBN 0873488296. Retrieved May 14, 2005.

Reference

• Figes, Orlando. A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution 1891–1924, : ISBN 014024364X (trade paperback) ISBN 0670859168 (hardcover)
• Fitzpatrick, Sheila. The Russian Revolution. 199 pages. Oxford University Press; 2nd Reissu edition. December 1, 2001. ISBN 0192802046.

External links

• Soviet history archive at www.marxists.org
• Ten Days that Shook the World, by John Reed
• Year One of the Russian Revolution from the Victor Serge Internet Archive on Marxists Internet Archive. Translation, editor's Introduction, and notes © 1972 by Peter Sedgwick. Retrieved April 5, 2005.

In Cinema

• Arsenal aka Арсенал aka January Uprising in Kiev in 1918 (IMDB profile). Written and Directed by Aleksandr Dovzhenko. Runtime: USA:70 min. Soviet Union / Ukraine. Language: Russian / Ukrainian. Black and White. Silent. 1928.

• Konets Sankt-Peterburga aka The End of St. Petersburg (IMDB profile). Directed by Vsevolod Pudovkin and Mikhail Doller (co-director). Written by Nathan Zarkhi. 80 min. Soviet Union. Black and White. Silent. 1927. Russian. Rural youth caught up in 1917 revolution.

• Lenin v 1918 godu aka Lenin in 1918 (IMDB profile). Directed by Mikhail Romm and E. Aron (co-director). Runtime: USA:130 min. 1939.

• Oktyabr aka October aka Ten Days that Shook the World (USA) (IMDB profile). Directed by Sergei M. Eisenstein and Grigori Aleksandrov. Runtimes: Sweden:104 min, USA:95 min. Country: Soviet Union. Black and White. Silent. 1927.

• Reds (IMDB profile). Directed by Warren Beatty. Based on the book Ten Days that Shook the World. Runtime: 194 min. Country: USA. Language: English / Russian / German. Color (Technicolor). Stereo. 1981.