The Russian Revolution was a period of political and social revolution across the territory of the Russian Empire, commencing in 1917 with the fall of the House of Romanov and concluding in 1923 with the Bolshevik establishment of the Soviet Union at the end of the Civil War. It was a series of two revolutions: the first one in February and the second one in October (using the old Julian calendar; the Gregorian calendar dates are March and November, respectively).
Start of the Russian Revolution:
Background
The revolution was the culmination of a long period of repression and unrest in Russia. The country was suffering from the strains of World War I, with widespread discontent over the government’s handling of the war effort and the economy. The autocratic rule of Tsar Nicholas II and the vast inequality between the rich and poor also fueled revolutionary sentiments.
February Revolution (March 1917)
The revolution began with widespread strikes and protests in Petrograd (now Saint Petersburg) over food shortages and the war. The military’s refusal to fire on the demonstrators and the subsequent mutiny of the garrison troops led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II on March 15, 1917, ending centuries of Romanov rule.
Provisional Government
Following the tsar’s abdication, a Provisional Government was established, which shared power with the Petrograd Soviet, a council of workers’ and soldiers’ deputies. However, the Provisional Government was weak and continued Russia’s involvement in World War I, which was deeply unpopular.
October Revolution (November 1917)
Bolshevik Rise
The Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, capitalized on the Provisional Government’s failures and the widespread desire for “Peace, Land, and Bread.” They gained support among the workers, soldiers, and peasants.
Overthrow of the Provisional Government
On November 7-8, 1917 (October 25-26 in the Julian calendar), the Bolsheviks led an armed insurrection in Petrograd, storming the Winter Palace and overthrowing the Provisional Government.
Bolshevik Control
The Bolsheviks quickly moved to consolidate power, negotiating peace with Germany (leading to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918) and redistributing land to the peasantry.
End of the Russian Revolution
Russian Civil War
The revolution led to a brutal civil war between the Bolshevik Red Army and the anti-Bolshevik White Army, which lasted from 1917 to 1922. The war was characterized by foreign intervention, widespread atrocities, and the eventual victory of the Red Army.
Formation of the Soviet Union
By 1922, the Bolsheviks had effectively won the civil war and established control over most of the former Russian Empire. On December 30, 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was officially formed, marking the end of the revolutionary period.
Death of Lenin
The revolution’s end is sometimes marked by the death of Vladimir Lenin in 1924, after which Joseph Stalin emerged as the leader of the Soviet Union, leading to a period of totalitarian rule.
The Russian Revolution had profound effects on the course of world history, leading to the spread of communism and influencing political movements around the globe. It also set the stage for the Cold War, as the Soviet Union and the United States emerged as superpowers with opposing ideologies.