RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

                                 

To understand the Russian Revolution it's very important to know the Marxist-Leninist school of thought. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels established a new school or approach to the study ideas of materialism and class struggle. The Marxists believe that history represents how the struggle between the haves and have nots is taking shape. They both viewed colonialism and nationalism as structurally incapable of fulfilling the task of modernization in the colonies. Marx always advocated the rights of the proletariat (workers) and wanted equal distribution of profit among all workers instead of accumulation into one hand. Lenin further carried Marx's ideas by advocating dictatorship on behalf of proletariate to disband the monopoly of private landholders. This philosophy is as known as Marxist-Leninist philosophy.

The Russian Revolution can be divided into two revolutions that led to the demise of the Tsarist regime of Russia and eventual the establishment of USSR

Introduction

In 1914, Tsar Nicholas II ruled Russia and its empire. At the beginning of the 20th century, the majority of Russia's people were engaged in agriculture. About 85% of the Russian empire's population earned their living from agriculture. The industry was found in pockets. Prominent industrial areas where Petersburg and Moscow, most of them were privately owned. The government-supervised large factories to ensure minimum wages and limited hours of works but they failed to do it, sometimes workers were forced to work for fifteen hours and sanitation was another important factor for them.

  •  All political parties were illegal in Russia before 1914. The Russian Social Democratic Workers Party was founded in 1898 by Julius Martov and Vladimir Lenin because of government policies it had to operate as an illegal organization.  But the party was divided into two factions Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. In Russian, the term “Bolshevik” literally means “majority” whereas “Menshevik” means “minority” – even though, in reality, Mensheviks were often the majority.

The Revolution of 1905

  • The year 1904 was particularly bad for Russian workers. Prices of essential goods rose so quickly that real wages declined by 20%. The membership of workers association rose dramatically. When four members of the Assembly of Russia Workers which had been formed in 1904, were dismissed at the Putilov Iron Works, there was a call for industrial action. Over the next few days, over 110,000 workers in St Peterburg went of a strike demanding a reduction in working hours, an increase in wages and improvement in working conditions.
  • When the procession of workers reached the Winter Palace it was attacked by the police. Over 100 workers were killed and about 300 wounded. The incident, known as Bloody Sunday.  This started a series of events that became known as the 1905 Revolution.
  • Revolution of 1905 forced the Tsar to give workers some concession. Tsar learned from his experience and crated Duma (Parliament) but Tsar dismissed the first Duma within 75 days and re-elected the second Duma within three months. He didn't want any questioning of his authority or any reduction in power. H changed the voting laws and packed the third Duma with conservative politicians who had been supporting him.
  • In 1906 Peter Stolyim was elected as Prime Minister and he carried out land reforms that were welcomed by workers. But in 1911 he was assassinated by Tsar because of his increasing popularity.
  • In 1914, the first world war broke out, around 20 lakh Russian soldiers and 80 lakh civilians died, later led to food shortage by 1917 because of a disrupted supply line. 
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The Revolution of 1917

It had been divided into two phases- Phase(1) took place in February but actually, it took place in march because they used an old calendar ( Julian) later replaced by Gregorian, Phase(2) took place in October but in reality, it was in November.

A pro-Bolshevik demonstration on 17 July 1917 


PHASE I

  • On 22 February, a lookout place at a factory on the right bank of a river Neva. The next day, workers in fifty factories went of the strike in sympathy. In many factories, women led the way to strikes later this day came to be called the International Women's Day.  Demonstrators dispersed by the evening, but they came back on the 24th and 25th. The government called out and police to keep an eye on them.
  • On Sunday, 25 February Tsar suspended the Duma. Politicians spoke out against the measure. Demonstrators returned in force to streets of the left bank on the 26 February. The government called out the cavalry once again and ordered them to suppress protest but cavalry refused to open fire on demonstrators.
  • Now Tsar was afraid of losing his life, on the very next day a delegation consist of military officials went to meet Tsar and advised him to abdicate and he followed the advice and abdicated on 2 March. Before he abdicates, he wanted his brother Michael to be the next Tsar but he refused because of prevailing unstable conditions. 
  • After Tsar, DUMA took over power and Social Democrats (Mensheviks) provincial government was formed. Alexander Kerensky became the Prime Minister. But this government made irresponsible decisions. They didn't understand the feelings of their citizens, two major mistakes are done by them was firstly they didn't hold elections and withdraw from WWI... Later this was known as the February Revolution.

PHASE II

  • .  By April 1917, the Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin returned to Russia from his exile.  He and the Bolsheviks had opposed the war since 1914. Now he felt it was time for soviets to take over power. 


Image of Lenin addressing workers in April 1917


  • He declared that the war is brought to a close, land be transferred to the peasants and banks be nationalized.
  • These three demands were Lenin's April Theses'. He also argued that the Bolsheviks Party rename itself the Communist Party to indicate new radical aims.
  • As the Provincial Government saw its power reduce and Bolshevik influence grows, it decided to take stern measures against spreading discontent. Popular demonstrations by the Bolsheviks in July 1917 were sternly suppressed and many of their leaders forced to hide or flee.
  • The army tries a coup in August and Kerensky asked Bolsheviks because they had RED GUARDS  to defend the government after they failed coup. Lenin returns and gives his famous speech. By this time Soviets(workers council) all over the country and help in the change of government. On 24-25 October all government buildings in Petrograd are captured by Bolsheviks overnight and all major cities, this left Kerensky with no options and approved the formation of new government composed mainly of Bolshevik commissars. This is known as the bloodless coup.

THE CIVIL WAR (1917-1922)

  • This was a war between the Whites(Mensheviks) and the Reds(Bolsheviks). The Whites were the supporters of Monarchy and they were supported by aristocrats and church/clergy because Mensheviks restricted their powers and were hard hit by land reforms. The Whites were also supported by the UK, France, and the USA against Communism.

  • The civil war witnessed 2-3 million casualties and whites were defeated and Tsar and his family were executed.  Joseph Stalin came into power but Vladimir Lenin didn't want Stalin to succeed him but he didn't have anyone else for purpose. Meanwhile, he suffered a series of strokes that left him unable to speak and on 30 December USSR was formally created.

Impact 

  • One of the largest empires Communism found its practical shape.
  • Nationalization of all resources.
  • Abolition of private property
  • Command economy and 5 years plans were introduced
  • First revolution to establish TRUE EQUALITY(American Revolution and French Revolution failed to do it)

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