Russian Revolution – Everything You Need to Know

Russia During the Tsarist Era

The Tsarist period of Russian history began in 1801 and lasted until 1917, during which the Romanov dynasty ruled the country. During this time, Russia underwent many changes, including industrialization, urbanization, growth in consumer society, political liberalization, and a politically active middle class.

The changes led to the impoverishment and lack of industrial workers and peasants. As Russia practiced feudalism until 1861, it oppressed the landless peasants, which led to the 1917 Russian Revolution. Other problems that existed in Russia before the revolution included:

• The Russians faced many costly wars during the 19th century, resulting in frequent shoe shortages. More than 400,000 Russians died in a famine that lasted a year in 1871, adding to the misery.
• In 1905, the empire suffered heavy losses from the Russo-Japanese War, including ships, money, and soldiers.
• Czar’s troops opened fire on unarmed protestors in the Bloody Sunday massacre of 1905, which violently stopped a peaceful protest to improve factory workers’ rights.
• During this era, Russians from the educated class understood that monarchical rule and aristocracy delayed not only technological advancements but also social progress compared to Western Europe and Northern America.

How World War I Affected Russia?

The Russian Revolution had a very profound effect from WW1 in 1917. When Russia entered the war in 1914, it was recognized as a desperate last-ditch effort to save the royal Romanov family members, which was deep inspection and unrest at home.

Everyone knows that World War 1 was a big disaster for Russia. Even the German forces had more advanced weapons and technology, making it very difficult to keep pace with Russia. Not only that, but Russia went through a lot of other difficulties, like a food shortage, not enough fuel, and a demoralized army. 

Following are some specific events during World War I that contributed to the revolutionary uprising of 1917:

1. Tsar’s control over the army: The former emperor of Russia, Nicholas Tsar II, stepped into the ground and took personal control of all forces, which proved disastrous. The only reason was that he lacked the necessary military forces and relied on outdated battle tactics.
2. The influence of Grigory Rasputin: President Nicholas II greatly benefited from the influence of Grigory Rasputin, a self-proclaimed healer and mystic. His corruption and incompetence, however, further undermined the legitimacy of the Tsar.
3. Hardships on the economic front: When the Soviet Union, aka Russia, was losing WW1, the words spread very rapidly in almost every country nearby. That lead to widespread shortages of vehicle fuel and food deficiency, resulting in a demoralized army and civilians.

These major events happened during 1917, leading to a perfect storm of discontent that sparked the Russian Revolution.

During the February Uprising

It all began on February 23rd, 1917 (or March 8th, in the new style). Since labor strikes were regular in St. Petersburg, which was also referred to as Petrograd, the protestors began assembly as a group of workers without leadership. Still, 130 thousand workers were on strike on this day, including women who were celebrating International Women’s Day.

Virtually every factory in the city was closed by strikers, fortifying the movement in Petrograd by the next day. It indicated increased participation among the protestors: students, offices, and teachers. Immediately, the situation intensified as the Tsar called on military forces to quell the crowds; these comprised mostly women. This procedure was the traditional way used to control a crowd. In response, a contingent of one thousand soldiers deserted and, instead of dispersing the protest, armed the people, which marked the start of an armed uprising.

In the following years, the governance of the city began to deteriorate. While the Socialist Party acted to establish the Petrograd Soviet as an organization representing the workers and soldiers, a temporary committee was created to maintain order. Nevertheless, on March 1st, 1917, or March 14th, 1917, according to New Style, Tsar Nicholas II was forced to surrender. On February 21st, a new Provisional Government was set up with liberal aristocrat Prince Georgy Yevgenievich Lvov as its head. What was noticeable in the following days was that it would become a formidable rival for power in Russia, the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies.

Revolution of October

At some point, the Petrograd Soviet, a strong council of soldiers and workers, began to demand a say in governance, leading to what was known as Dual Authority; this paved the way for the Bolsheviks.

The Bolsheviks overthrew the Provisional Government by force in October 1917. Speaking of the Bolshevik revolution, one has to mention the chairman of the Petrograd Soviet, Leon Trotsky. Only Trotsky and the Military Revolutionary Committee began to rally the Red Guards and the soldiers and sailors to seize key spots in Petrograd.

After the seizure of government buildings, communication centers, and the important positions around the capital on the October 25-26 TS (November 6-7, New Style), Bolshevik-led forces took control. After the departure of the Provisional Government’s head, Kerensky, the Provisional Government was arrested. The so-called ‘October Revolution’ was a bloodless coup, where the Bolsheviks overthrew the Provisional Government following the storming of the Winter Palace the next day.

Impacts and Aftereffects

In the global discussion, the Russian Revolution profoundly impacted Russia’s political, social, and ideological landscape. Not only did it reshape the nation, but it also influenced international relations and ideological conflicts. Here are a few highlights:

1. Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks’ abolition of the provisional government following the October Revolution marked the beginning of communist rule in Russia.
2. During World War I, Russia signed the Brest-Litovsk Treaty, which ended the conflict.
3. The Soviet Union was formed in 1922 following subsequent administrative reforms, which followed a brutal civil war between 1918 and 1920.
4. The ideological divide established by the Russian Revolution sparked the Cold War, a period of prolonged geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and Western powers.