Russian Revolution of 1917

The origins of the Russian Revolution........

By 1914, Russia was economically backwards only just beginning to industrialize. The vast majority of Russia's population were peasants and the political system was under the rule of the Tsar. During the 1905 revolution, the Duma (Parliament)created had no real power. There was widespread opposition to the Tsarist government from The Constitutional Democrats (Kadets)who were the bourgeois liberals. Also, there was opposition from anarchists who appealed to peasants and who supported terrorist tactics known as the Social Revolutionaries. The Social Democrats (Marxists) were split, at this point, between the Mensheviks who wanted to wait for necessary pre-conditions for socialism to develop in Russia and the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks, Lenin's faction of power, supported revolution now, led by discipline vanguard of professional revolutionaries. World War I helped only temporarily to releave the unrest but the Tsarist government was unable to cope with the demands of all-out war. The Russian army was poorly equipped and not well led. The departure of Tsar Nicholas II to take command of troops leaves control of the government in the hands of the Tsarina, Alexandra. Alexandra, is preoccupied with the health of their hemophiliac son and turns to Grigori (Rasputin) to heal him. Rasputin corrupts the reputation of the monarchy until he is murdered in December of 1916. In March of 1917, there were strikes and food riots in the capital, Petrograd (St. Petersburg/Leningrad) which led to the downfall of the monarchy and the beginning of the Revolution.

Russian Revolution Links.......

Museum of Communism: This is a compilation of theoretical idas on Communism and an explanation of the Revolution. This is a great site for research and information.
Marx and Engels Archive: Marx and Engel's writings and lives as well as how they fit into the Revolution.
HomePage: Back to the homepage

Impact of the Revolution

The Revolution of 1917 leads to "dual power". The first power is the Provisional Government (i.e., temporary) made of liberal leaders from the Duma and one revolutionary Socialist Revolutionary, Alexander Kerensky, They seek political change to give Russia civil liberties and a constitutional government of elected officials.

The second power source is the Petrograd Soviet (council) of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies . Initially, this was a network of local soviets which spreads across the country. They sought more social and econommic change. Furthermore, backing came from masses of soldiers, workers, and peasants.

Conflicts arise initially in the Provisional Government goes along with workers' demands for better conditions. Soviets lack the confidence to push for power. THe Menshiks believe that Russia is not ready for Socialism, and that socialists should support liberals of the Provisional Government. Gradually however, elites become tired of mass demands and the masses lose patience with the elite resistance to social change and inistence on continuing the revolution.

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