The Russian Revolution of 1917

The Russian Revolution was a significant political, social, and economic upheaval in the Russian Empire in 1917, marking it as a pivotal event in contemporary history due to its far-reaching consequences.

Key Causes of the Russian Revolution

• World War I:
  • Russia was at war with Germany, leading to military defeats and heavy casualties, which discredited the Romanov dynasty.
  • The defeat against Japan in 1905, during the Russo-Japanese war, also set the stage for revolution.
• Economic Crisis:
  • Acute economic crisis characterized by food shortages and famine.
  • Russia was predominantly rural with extreme social inequality, mainly between the nobility and the peasantry.
• Unpopular Leadership:
  • Tsarina Alexandra, of German origin, was unpopular and opposed reforms.
  • The murder of Rasputin, the Tsarina’s adviser, further destabilized the monarchy.

Phases of the Revolution

February Revolution (March 1917)

• Initial Spark:
  • Triggered by a spontaneous strike in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) factories.
  • Led to widespread strikes and demonstrations.
• Abdication of Nicholas II:
  • The Russian army incapable of suppressing the revolution.
  • Over 100 victims resulted from clashes in Petrograd.
  • Nicholas II abdicated, ending the Romanov dynasty.
• Provisional Government:
  • Led by Alexander Kerensky.
  • Period marked by hope, with freedoms for press and return of political exiles including Lenin.

October Revolution (November 1917)

• Strategic Coup:
  • Planned by Lenin and Leon Trotsky to overthrow the provisional government.
  • Soviets seized control of Petrograd’s strategic points.
  • Winter Palace assaulted leading to the overthrow of the provisional government.
• Lenin's Measures:
  • Immediate peace.
  • Land reforms for peasants.
  • Formation of the Soviet of People’s Commissaries.

Aftermath and Civil War

• Civil War (1918-1922):
  • Bolsheviks (Red Army) vs. White Army.
  • Victory of the Red Army established Leninism and the dictatorship of the proletariat.
  • Formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1922.
  • Severe famine resulted in over 5 million deaths.
• Political Repression:
  • The Cheka: Political and military intelligence to eliminate dissent through arrests, executions, and torture.
  • Initiation of the Red Terror and first concentration camps.
  • Massacre of Nicholas II and his family.

Succession and Rise of Stalin

• Lenin’s Illness and Death:
  • Lenin fell ill and was succeeded by Joseph Stalin in 1924 after Lenin's death.
  • Stalin marginalized Trotsky, leading to Trotsky’s exile and assassination.
• Stalin’s Rule:
  • Imposed a totalitarian regime.
  • Elevated the USSR to a global superpower status.
• Legacy of the USSR:
  • Lasted until 1991, profoundly impacting global political dynamics.