45 Facts About The Russian Revolution: Causes, Impacts And Much More
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The Russian Revolution is an important event since it led to the formation of the Soviet Union.
The Russian Revolution was a turning point in world history. Under the governance of Vladimir Lenin, the working class was able to overthrow the monarch and start the most glorious time in the history of the Communist party!
It began with the February Revolution of 1917 and ended with the October Revolution of 1917. These two revolutions completely changed Russia from an autocratic monarchy to a communist state. Let's discuss some of the most important facts about the Russian Revolution!
Cause of The Russian Revolution
Like any revolution that has ever taken place in the history of humankind, even the Russian Revolution has had many contributing factors. While some of these factors have directly affected the way in which the country was shaped in terms of governance, there are still other reasons which merely acted as an added boost.
In January of that year, food prices soared and rations were reduced due to the First World War.
On March 8 (February 23 on the Julian calendar), a large protest march took place in Petrograd (now Saint Petersburg) to demand food rations and an end to the war.
The Russian police opened fire on the protesters, killing hundreds of them.
This event became known as Bloody Sunday.
In response to Bloody Sunday, protests erupted all over Russia.
On March 15 (March 2 on the Julian calendar), Czar Nicholas II abdicated the throne, and a provisional government was established.
The February Revolution had begun.
The czarist regime was very unpopular with the people of Russia.
This was due to a number of factors, including the government's mishandling of the First World War, its failure to address social and economic problems, and its repressive policies.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, socialism began to gain popularity in Russia.
Socialist ideas were spread by a number of different groups, including the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) and the Bolsheviks.
Marxism is a political and economic theory that was developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the 19th century.
Marxism had a significant impact on the Russian Revolution, as it provided a theoretical framework for understanding class relations and social change.
Russia underwent rapid industrialization in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
This led to the development of a large working class, which was increasingly receptive to socialist ideas.
The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 had a devastating impact on Russia.
The war led to widespread economic problems, and it also resulted in the deaths of millions of Russian soldiers.
February Revolution
The February Revolution was an essential part of the Russian Revolution and the fall of the Russian monarch. This was the point in Russian history wherein the power of the people and their opinion was revealed. With the Russian army and police joining hands with the common people, the February Revolution was a huge success.
In March (February in the Julian calendar) 1917, a strike was organized by the people of St. Petersburg or Petrograd.
Women also joined this strike in large numbers.
Most of these women worked in fabric companies.
Since they left their jobs to take part in the strike, most of the factories were shut down completely by March 10 (February 25 on the Julian calendar) 1917.
Since the monarch's wife was in power at the time, she was responsible for deciding the next steps in light of the strike.
However, she did not do anything.
Hence, Nicholas II had to use his power. He telegrammed his army chief in order to squash the rebellion.
The chief tried to do so, but the monarch's efforts failed.
This is because the army and police eventually joined the strike themselves.
October Revolution
The other phase of the Russian Revolution started in the month of October. At this time, the revolution turned its head towards the conflict between socialists and communists, and who would be in power in Russia. With the return of Lenin to the country, a party called Bolsheviks was created, which eventually succeeded in taking over the country.
The second phase of the revolution started on October 23 (October 10 on the Julian calendar) 1917.
This eventually led to the fall of the provisional government on November 7 (October 25 on the Julian calendar), 1917.
The Csar's Winter Palace was taken over too.
A congress was formed, which held a couple of unsuccessful meetings at first.
Leaders like Leon Trotsky were very proactive at this time.
Impact of The Russian Revolution
Let's take a look at the impact of the Russian Revolution.
The most immediate effect of the revolution was the overthrow of the czarist regime.
This led to the establishment of a new government, the Russian Provisional Government.
Another effect of the revolution was the abdication of Nicholas II, the last czar of Russia.
This marked the end of centuries of imperial rule in Russia.
The revolution led to the rise of socialism in Russia.
This was due to the increasing popularity of socialist ideas among the Russian people, as well as the establishment of a communist government.
The revolution also led to the outbreak of civil war in Russia.
This began with the White Army's attempt to overthrow the new communist government and restore the old order.
One of the most lasting effects of the Russian Revolution was the formation of the Soviet Union.
This was a communist state that was established in 1922 and lasted until 1991.
Other Miscellaneous Facts
Understandably, there are many things that happened during the Russian Revolution, which are not talked about nearly as often.
The csar's decision to join the First World War was criticized by the people of the country in the later stages.
They initially thought it was a great decision, as their patriotic spirit was triggered.
However, seeing the bad conditions of the soldiers and the scarcity of ration, people were unhappy.
Vladimir Lenin was banned from the country and was living in exile until the csar fell and the provisional government allowed his return.
The socialist provisional government tried to calm the people down by bringing reforms such as allowing them the freedom of speech.
The success of the Russian Revolution was also caused by the immense popularity that Marxism had gained in the country.
The impact of the First World War was also huge on the country and added to the discontentment of the people of the nation.
FAQs
What started the Russian Revolution?
The Russian Revolution began with the February Revolution of 1917. This revolution was sparked by a series of events that took place in Russia in 1916.
What happened in the Russian Revolution?
In the Bolshevik Revolution or Russian Revolution, Vladimir Lenin took over the nation and the Communist party came into power. Initially, after the February revolution, a provisional government was formed.
How long did the Russian Revolution last?
The Russian Revolution of 1917 went on for around two years.
Why was the Russian Revolution successful?
The Russian Revolution was successful because of the influence of the socialist revolutionaries as well as the utter failure of the Russian parliament and tsarist Russia in general.
What was the cause and effect of the Russian Revolution?
There were many causes behind the Russian Revolution but the point where they all culminated was the fact that the people were not happy with the monarchial style of governance. The effect was that the Communist party was given the power and the monarchial system was removed.
How did the Russian Revolution end?
The Russian Revolution came to an end with the defeat of the White Army in the Russian Civil War. This marked the victory of the communist government and the establishment of the Soviet Union. However, there were a number of long-term effects of the revolution, which are still evident today.
When did the Russian Revolution start?
The Russian Revolution began in 1917 with the February Revolution, followed by the October Revolution, which was led by the Bolsheviks. This was a revolution that overthrew the czarist regime and established a communist government in Russia.
What type of government ruled after the Russian Revolution?
After the Russian Revolution, a communist government was established in Russia. This was the Soviet Union, which lasted until 1991.
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With a degree in English from Amity University, Noida, Shirin has won awards for oratory, acting, and creative writing. She has a wealth of experience as an English teacher, editor, and writer, having previously worked at Quizzy and Big Books Publishing. Her expertise lies in editing study guides for children and creating engaging content.
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