The Russian Revolution 1917
Summary
TLDRIn 1917, Nicholas II's rule over a vast, impoverished Russian empire ended with the February Revolution, leading to the Provisional Government's establishment. Despite hopes for a democratic Russia, the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, seized power in October, promising 'Bread, Peace, and Land.' After a brutal civil war, the Soviet Union emerged, suppressing dissent and extinguishing early democratic aspirations.
Takeaways
- 👑 In 1894, Nicholas II became the ruler of a vast Russian empire, which was marked by stark contrasts between the impoverished workers and peasants and the luxurious lives of the imperial family and aristocracy.
- ⚖️ The 1905 revolution led to the creation of a state duma, or national assembly, in Russia, but its power was limited and failed to satisfy either the Tsar or the reformers.
- 🌎 World War One brought disaster to Tsarist Russia, with devastating defeats at the front and food shortages and economic chaos at home, leading to the Tsar being held responsible for the crisis.
- 🔮 The influence of the Siberian mystic Grigory Rasputin over the Tsar and his family was seen as highly detrimental, and his murder in 1916 by Russian aristocrats marked a turning point.
- 👩🎓 The February Revolution in 1917, sparked by protests over bread shortages and dissatisfaction with the Tsar's rule, led to the abdication of Nicholas II and the end of Romanov rule.
- 🏛️ The Provisional Government, formed after the February Revolution, shared power with the Petrograd Soviet, reflecting the divided nature of Russian politics at the time.
- 🌾 The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, promised 'Bread, Peace, and Land', which resonated with the masses as Russia's economic and military crisis deepened.
- 💣 The failure of the June military offensive and the subsequent mutinies in Petrograd, supported by the Bolsheviks, showed the weakening of the Provisional Government's control.
- 🚨 The Kornilov Affair, an attempted military coup, backfired and instead bolstered the Bolsheviks' reputation as defenders of the revolution, leading to their gaining a majority in the Petrograd Soviet.
- ⚔️ The Bolsheviks' October Revolution in 1917 resulted in the overthrow of the Provisional Government, marking the beginning of a brutal civil war and the eventual establishment of the Soviet Union.
- 🕊️ The hopes for a democratic Russia were quashed by the Bolsheviks, who established a one-party state that suppressed all opposition, with the Soviet Union emerging as a world superpower after World War Two.
Q & A
Who became the ruler of Russia in 1894 and what was the state of the empire at that time?
-Nicholas II became the ruler of Russia in 1894. The Russian empire stretched from the Baltic to the Pacific, inhabited by 126 million people from 194 ethnic groups. It was a country marked by the poverty and hardship of workers and peasants, while the elite, including the imperial family and aristocracy, lived in luxury.
What significant change occurred in Russia in 1905, and why was it forced?
-In 1905, a revolution forced Tsar Nicholas II to allow the creation of a state duma, or national assembly. This change was forced due to the long history of struggle against the injustices of the system.
How did World War One impact Tsarist Russia, and what was the consequence for the Tsar?
-World War One was disastrous for Tsarist Russia, leading to devastating defeats, food shortages, and economic chaos. The Tsar was held responsible for the crisis, as he was the commander-in-chief of the army and was seen as an obstacle to government reform.
Who was Grigory Rasputin and why was he murdered in December 1916?
-Grigory Rasputin was a Siberian mystic and faith healer who had significant influence over the Tsar and his family. He was murdered by Russian aristocrats, possibly with the help of British secret agents, due to his influence over the Tsar and the belief that he was causing harm to the country.
What triggered the February Revolution in 1917, and how did it unfold?
-The February Revolution was triggered by protests over bread shortages on International Women's Day, February 23, 1917. The protests escalated with the joining of workers and students, leading to mutinies among troops, arrests of Tsarist officials, and the eventual abdication of Tsar Nicholas II on March 2nd.
What was the role of the Provisional Government after the February Revolution, and who did it share power with?
-The Provisional Government, formed by members of the State Duma, was to hold power until a Constituent Assembly could be elected to give Russia a new constitution. However, it shared power with the Petrograd Soviet, a council elected by workers and soldiers, which controlled the capital's troops, transport, and communications.
What were the key demands of the Bolsheviks under Vladimir Lenin, and how did they appeal to the masses?
-The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, demanded an end to the 'imperialist war', the immediate redistribution of land from rich landowners to peasants, and the transfer of power to the people's Soviets. Their simple slogan 'Bread, Peace, and Land' appealed to the masses as Russia's economic and military crisis deepened.
What was the outcome of the failed military offensive in June 1917, and how did it affect the political landscape?
-The failed military offensive in June 1917 resulted in 400,000 Russian casualties, massive desertions, and the collapse of army morale and discipline. This disaster further weakened the Provisional Government and increased the appeal of the Bolsheviks, who opposed the war.
How did the Kornilov Affair impact the Bolsheviks' standing in the revolution?
-The Kornilov Affair, an attempted military coup by General Kornilov, cast the Bolsheviks as saviors of the revolution when they played a leading role in defending Petrograd. This event helped the Bolsheviks gain a majority in the Petrograd Soviet by the end of September.
What events led to the Bolsheviks' seizure of power in October 1917, and what was the outcome?
-Lenin secretly returned to Petrograd in October 1917 and prepared to seize power. On October 25th, the Bolsheviks, with the help of Red Guards and loyal troops, seized key points in the capital and stormed the Provisional Government's headquarters at the Winter Palace. The following day, Lenin announced the overthrow of the Provisional Government, marking the beginning of Bolshevik rule.
What was the ultimate fate of Tsar Nicholas II and his family after the October Revolution?
-After the October Revolution, Tsar Nicholas II and his family were first held under house arrest in Tobolsk, then moved to Yekaterinburg. In July 1918, as White forces approached the city, Bolshevik soldiers executed the entire family, including Tsar Nicholas, his wife, their son, four daughters, and four servants.
Outlines
👑 The Fall of Tsarist Russia
Nicholas II ascended to the Russian throne in 1894, ruling over a vast empire with diverse ethnic groups. The empire was marked by the stark contrast between the impoverished workers and peasants and the luxurious lifestyle of the elite. Despite the 1905 revolution leading to the establishment of a state duma, it had limited power and failed to satisfy either the Tsar or the reformers. World War One brought further disaster, with military defeats and domestic turmoil leading to the Tsar's increasing unpopularity. The February Revolution in 1917, initiated by protests over food shortages, culminated in the abdication of Nicholas II, ending 300 years of Romanov rule and giving rise to the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet, setting the stage for a more democratic Russia.
🔥 The Rise of the Bolsheviks
The Provisional Government, formed by the State Duma, coexisted with the Petrograd Soviet, which was more radical and controlled key resources in the capital. The decision to continue participating in World War One was unpopular and benefited the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, who advocated for peace, land redistribution, and power to the Soviets. Despite initial setbacks including the suppression of protests and the temporary exile of Lenin, the Bolsheviks gained support as Russia's crisis worsened. The Kornilov Affair, an attempted military coup, was thwarted with Bolshevik help, enhancing their reputation. By October, Lenin secretly returned to Petrograd and orchestrated the Bolshevik seizure of power, leading to the overthrow of the Provisional Government and the establishment of a new socialist order.
🏰 The Bolshevik Victory and Aftermath
Following the Bolshevik takeover, a brutal civil war ensued against the 'White Russian' forces, who received foreign support. The former Tsar and his family, initially under house arrest, were eventually executed by the Bolsheviks in Yekaterinburg to prevent their use as a rallying symbol for the opposition. The civil war resulted in massive casualties and suffering, with millions dead from conflict, disease, and famine. The Bolsheviks, under Lenin's leadership, emerged victorious by 1921 and began constructing a socialist state. The Soviet Union, established in 1922, would later become a world superpower but remained a one-party state with suppressed dissent. The initial hopes for democracy following the February Revolution were quashed by the Bolsheviks, with the October Revolution setting the course for decades of single-party rule.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Nicholas II
💡State Duma
💡World War One
💡Petrograd Soviet
💡Bolsheviks
💡Vladimir Lenin
💡Provisional Government
💡Red Guards
💡October Revolution
💡Civil War
💡Soviet Union
Highlights
Nicholas II became ruler of a vast Russian empire in 1894.
The Russian empire was home to 126 million people from 194 ethnic groups.
Workers and peasants lived in poverty while the elite enjoyed luxury.
The 1905 revolution led to the creation of a state duma with limited power.
World War One brought disaster to Tsarist Russia with military defeats and economic chaos.
Tsar Nicholas was held responsible for the crisis and was seen as an obstacle to reform.
Empress Alexandra faced accusations of supporting Germany.
Grigory Rasputin's influence over the Tsar led to his murder in December 1916.
The February Revolution in 1917 was sparked by protests over bread shortages.
Tsarist officials were arrested and symbols of Tsarist rule were destroyed.
Nicholas II abdicated on 2nd March, ending 300 years of Romanov rule.
The Provisional Government was formed but shared power with the Petrograd Soviet.
The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, opposed the war and demanded land redistribution.
The Bolshevik slogan 'Bread, Peace, and Land' resonated with the masses.
The Kornilov Affair in August 1917 cast the Bolsheviks as saviors of the revolution.
The Bolsheviks seized power in October 1917, overthrowing the Provisional Government.
The Russian Civil War resulted in millions of deaths and the rise of the Soviet Union.
The execution of Tsar Nicholas II and his family in July 1918 marked a tragic end to the Romanov dynasty.
The Soviet Union became a world superpower but remained a single-party state suppressing dissent.
The hopes for Russian democracy were extinguished by the Bolshevik October Revolution.
Transcripts
In 1894, Nicholas II became ruler of a Russian empire that stretched from the
Baltic to the Pacific, inhabited by 126 million people, from 194 ethnic groups.
It was a country in which workers and peasants lived in poverty and hardship - while
Russia's elite - its imperial family and aristocracy - lived lives of gilded luxury.
There was a long history of struggle in Russia against the injustices of the system.
And in 1905, a revolution forced the Tsar to
allow the creation of a state duma, or national assembly.
But its power was limited, and the compromise pleased neither the Tsar nor the reformers.
In 1914, this divided empire was plunged into fresh crisis... by world war.
World War One was a disaster for Tsarist Russia.
At the front, the country suffered a series of devastating defeats,
while at home there were food shortages and economic chaos.
The Tsar was held responsible for the crisis – after all, he was now the army's
commander-in-chief, and he was standing in the way of government reform. His German-born wife,
Empress Alexandra, was even thought to be supporting Germany; while the entire family was
said to have fallen under the spell of a Siberian mystic and faith healer, Grigory Rasputin.
In December 1916, Rasputin was murdered by Russian aristocrats,
possibly with the help of British secret agents - both groups determined to end his
influence over the Tsar. But in the eyes of many, the damage had already been done.
On 23rd February 1917, thousands of women took to the streets of the Russian capital,
Petrograd, to mark International Women's Day and protest over bread shortages.
The next day they were joined on the streets by workers and students,
carrying placards that read 'Down with the Tsar!'
Troops, ordered to put down the disorder, mutinied, and joined the protestors instead.
Tsarist officials were arrested, prisons and police stations were attacked,
emblems of Tsarist rule smashed and burned.
The government had lost control of the capital.
The Tsar was told by his ministers that order could only be restored - and Russia
saved from military defeat - if he gave up power.
So on 2nd March, Nicholas agreed to abdicate.
In just 10 days, 300 years of Romanov rule had come to an end.
The February Revolution had been remarkably swift and bloodless,
and hopes were now high for the creation of a more democratic, more just Russian state.
Members of the State Duma, the national assembly, had formed a Provisional Government, which was to
hold power until a Constituent Assembly was elected, to give Russia a new constitution.
But in reality, the Provisional Government shared power with the Petrograd Soviet, a council elected
by workers and soldiers, that controlled the capital's troops, transport and communications.
The Petrograd Soviet, dominated by the Socialist Revolutionary Party and the Marxist Menshevik
Party, was much more radical than the Provisional Government... yet it supported the Government's
decision to continue the war, and honour the commitments that Russia had made to the Allies.
It was a fateful decision, that ultimately played into the hands
of one of the smaller parties.... the Bolsheviks.
Their leader, Vladimir Lenin, recently returned from 16 years in exile,
bitterly opposed the 'imperialist war'.
He also demanded the immediate redistribution of land from rich landowners to peasants;
and the transfer of power from the 'bourgeoise' Provisional Government to the people's Soviets,
or councils, that were springing up across Russia.
The Bolshevik programme was summed up in a simple slogan, 'Bread, Peace and Land'.
And as Russia's economic and military crisis deepened, its appeal to the masses grew and grew.
In June, a new Russian military offensive ended in disaster, with 400,000 Russian casualties,
massive desertions, and the collapse of army morale and discipline.
In July, soldiers and sailors in Petrograd mutinied. They were
joined in the streets by workers, with Bolshevik support. But troops loyal to
the Provisional Government opened fire on the protestors, and dispersed the crowds.
A police crackdown followed, leading to the arrest of several Bolshevik leaders,
including Leon Trotsky, while Lenin, with the help of Josef Stalin, fled to Finland,
travelling with forged papers under the name of Konstantin Ivanov...
A socialist, and stirring orator, named Alexander Kerensky, became Russia's new Prime Minister,
and was hailed as the man who would save Russia from anarchy.
The army's commander-in-chief, General Kornilov, believed Russia's war effort was being undermined
by chaos at home, and deliberately sabotaged by men like Lenin, whom he declared a German spy.
So in August, he ordered his men to march on Petrograd, to 'restore order'.
Bolsheviks played a leading role in the city's defence against this attempted military coup.
Their most brilliant organiser, Leon Trotsky, was released from prison,
and sent armed Bolshevik militias, the 'Red Guards', to defend key points in the city.
Strikes by railway workers, many of them Bolshevik supporters, prevented Kornilov
from moving his men by rail, and his soldiers began to switch sides, or simply go home.
The Kornilov Affair cast the Bolsheviks as saviours of the revolution.
And by the end of September, they'd gained a majority in the Petrograd Soviet.
In October, Lenin decided the time had come. He secretly returned from Finland
to Petrograd, and began preparing to seize power.
On 25th October, the Bolsheviks made their move: Red Guards and loyal troops seized key
points around the capital, and that night they stormed the Provisional
Government's headquarters at the Winter Palace – an event later immortalised by
Bolshevik propaganda, and the great Soviet film-maker, Sergei Eisenstein.
Kerensky fled the city at the last moment, narrowly avoiding capture,
and the next day, at the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets,
Lenin announced the overthrow of the Provisional Government.
The following months saw the Bolsheviks consolidate their hold on power, while fighting a
brutal civil war against counter-revolutionary, or 'White Russian', forces, who had foreign support.
Some Whites hoped to put Tsar Nicholas back on the throne.
After his abdication, Nicholas and his family had been held under guard at Tsarkoye Selo,
outside Petrograd, where they occupied themselves with gardening and other diversions.
In summer 1917 the family was sent to Tobolsk,
in Siberia, where they lived under house arrest in the Governor's Mansion.
The following spring, the Bolsheviks had the family moved to Yekaterinburg.
In July 1918, as White forces approached the city, Bolshevik soldiers gathered the whole
family in a cellar – the Tsar, his wife, their son Alexei, their 4 daughters, Olga,
Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia, as well as 4 servants - and executed them all.
Russia's civil war was one of the 20th century's
most devastating events. An estimated 2 million soldiers lost their lives,
while a typhus epidemic and famine claimed the lives of a further 9 million civilians.
By the end of 1921, the Bolsheviks had emerged victorious, and under Lenin's
determined and uncompromising leadership, set about building a new socialist order.
The Soviet Union, created in 1922,
emerged as a world superpower following the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two.
But it would always remain a single party state,
where all opposition or dissent was ruthlessly suppressed.
Those brief hopes for Russian democracy,
that flowered amid the euphoria of the February Revolution, were extinguished
by the Bolshevik October Revolution, and put beyond reach for decades to come.
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