THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION :
In 1914, Tsar Nicholas II ruled the Russian empire.
Economy and Society: Most of the Russian population( about 85 %) were agriculturalist. Industries were being set up which was mostly private property of industrialists.
Workers were divided into groups but they did unite to strike work when they
were dissatisfied. Peasants had no respect for nobility, very
unlike the French peasant. Russian peasants were the only
peasant community which pooled their land and their commune divided it.
Socialism in Russia:-
All political parties were illegal in Russia before 1914.
The Russian Socialist Democratic Labour Party was formed in 1898. It
struggled to give peasants their rights over land that belonged to nobles.
As land was divided among peasants periodically which makes them
natural socialist and it was felt that peasants and not workers would be
the main source of the revolution. But Lenin did not agree with this as he
felt that peasants were not one social group. The party was divided into
Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.
The 1905 Revolution : -
Russia was an autocracy. The Tsar was not subject to
the parliament. Liberals wanted to end this state of affairs. They worked
towards demanding a constitution during the Revolution of 1905.
Bloody Sunday :-
Prices of essential goods rose so quickly by 1904 that the
real wages declined by 20%. During this time, four members of the Putilov
Iron Works were dismissed. Action was called for. Over 110,000 workers in
St. Petersburg went on strike demanding a reduction in working hours and
increase in wages. The procession was led by Father Gapon.This
procession was attacked by the police and Cossacks. Over 100 workers
were killed. Strikes took place as a reaction. People demanded a
constituent assembly.
The Tsar allowed the creation of an elected consultative Parliament or
Duma. The Tsar dismissed the first Duma within 75 days and announced
the election of a second Duma.
The First World War and the Russian Empire:-
In Russia, the war was
initially very popular but later the support grew thin. Anti-German sentiments
ran high. Russian armies lost badly in Germany and Austria. There were 7
million casualties and 3 million refugees in Russia.
The war also affected the industry. There was labour shortage, railway lines
were shut down and small workshops were closed down. There was
shortage of grain and hence of bread.
The February Revolution in Petrograd :-
In the winter of 1917, Petrograd was grim. There was food shortage in the workers’
quarters.
22 February : a lockout took place at a factory. Workers of 50 other factories joined
in sympathy. Women also led and participated in the strikes. This came to be called
the International Women’s Day.
The government imposed a curfew as the quarters of the fashionable area and
official buildings were surrounded by workers.
On the 24th and 25th, the government called out the cavalry and police to keep an
eye on them.
On 25th February, the government suspended the Duma and politicians spoke against this
measure. The people were out with force once again.
On 27th, the police headquarters were ransacked.
Cavalry was called out again however it refused to fire on demonstrators.
An officer was shot at the barracks of a regiment and other regiments mutinied, voting to join the
striking workers gathered to form a soviet or council. This was the Petrograd Soviet.
A delegation went to meet the Tsar, military commanders advised him to abdicate.
The Tsar abdicated on 2nd March.
A Provincial Government was formed by the Soviet and Duma leaders to run the country
Effects :
It resisted attempts by workers to run factories and arrested leaders.
Peasants and the socialist revolutionary leaders pressed for a redistribution of land.
Land committees were formed and peasants seized land between July and
September 1917.
Effects :
Restrictions on public meetings and associations were removed.
Soviets were set up everywhere.
In individual areas factory committees were formed which began questioning the way
industrialists ran their factories.
Soldiers’ committees were formed in the army.
The provisional government saw its power declining and Bolshevik influence grow. It
decided to take stern measures against the spreading discontent.
What changed after
October?
What changed after October :-
16th October 1917 — Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and Bolshevik Party to agree to a socialist seizure of power. A
Military Revolutionary Committee was appointed by the Soviet to organise seizure.
Uprising began on 24th October. Prime Minister Kerenskii left the city to summon troops.
Military men loyal to the government seized the buildings of two Bolshevik newspapers. Pro-government troops were sent to take over telephone and telegraph offices and protect the Winter Palace
In response Military Revolutionary Committee ordered to seize government offices and arrest the ministers.
The ‘Aurora’ ship shelled the Winter Palace. Other ships took over
strategic points.
By night the city had been taken over and ministers had surrendered.
All Russian Congress of Soviets in Petrograd approved the Bolshevik action.
What changed after October?
Heavy fighting in Moscow — by December, the Bolsheviks
controlled the Moscow – Petrograd area.
Effects :
Most industry and banks were nationalised in November
1917.
Land was declared social property and peasants were
allowed to seize the land of the nobility.
What changed after October?
Effects :
Use of old aristocratic titles was banned.
New uniforms were designed for the army and officials.
Russia became a one party state.
Trade unions were kept under party control.
A process of centralised planning was introduced. This led to
economic growth.
What changed after October?
Effects :
Industrial production increased.
An extended schooling system developed.
Collectivisation of farms started.
What changed after October ?
The Civil War — When the Bolsheviks ordered land
redistribution, the Russian army began to break up. NonBolshevik socialists, liberals and supporters of autocracy
condemned the Bolshevik uprising. They formed their
troops and were called ‘Greens’ which would fight against
Bolshevik ‘Red’. The pro Tsar ‘Whites” controlled most of
the Russian empire. They were supported by French,
American, British and Japanese troops. All these fought a
war with the Bolsheviks.
What changed after October?
Making a Socialist Society — The Bolsheviks kept
industries and banks nationalised during the civil war. A
process of centralised planning was introduced. Rapid
construction and industrialisation started. An extended
schooling system developed.
What changed after October?
Stalin and Collective Farming — Stalin believed
that rich peasants and traders stocked supplies to
create shortage of grains. Hence, collectivisation
was the need of the hour. This system would also
help to modernize farms. Those farmers who
resisted collectivisation were punished, deported
or exiled.
The Global Influence of the Russian Revolution and the USSR
By the 1950s, it was recognised in the country and outside that everything was not in keeping with the ideals of the
Russian revolution. Though its industries and agriculture had developed and the poor were being fed, the essential
freedom to its citizens was being denied. However, it was recognised that social ideals still enjoyed respect among the
Russians. But in each country the ideas of socialism were rethought in a variety of different ways.
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