Russian Revolution: Causes, Key Events, and Impact

Causes and Key Events of the Russian Revolution

The Russian Revolution stands as a pivotal event in modern history, leaving a significant mark on both America and Europe. While it didn't immediately spread communism, it provided a model for developing nations. Decades later, its philosophical and governmental aspects gained renewed prominence as Russia, transformed into a socialist state with economic and military power, confronted the U.S. during the Cold War.

The revolutions of 1917 are generally divided into two main phases: the February Revolution, which led to the fall of the Tsarist regime, and the October Revolution, which established the world's first communist state. The causes of these revolutions were rooted in the political, economic, and social conditions of Russia at the time.

Political Causes

The Russian people deeply resented the autocratic rule of Tsar Nicholas II. The heavy casualties suffered by Russia during World War I further damaged his reputation and fueled discontent.

Social Causes

Centuries of despotic rule by the Tsars had oppressed the peasantry, creating significant tensions within the rural underclass that often erupted into riots.

Economic Causes

Widespread inflation and famine across Russia exacerbated the existing social and political problems, contributing significantly to the revolutionary climate.

The combination of these factors, coupled with the leadership of Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky, made the Russian Revolution almost inevitable.

The Russian Revolution of 1917: A Summary

The Russian Revolution of 1917 was a political upheaval that culminated in the overthrow of the provisional government, which had replaced the Tsarist system. This ultimately led to the formation of the Soviet Union, which existed until 1991.

The Revolution can be divided into two distinct phases:

• The February Revolution: This phase saw the removal of Tsar Nicholas II, the last autocrat, and an attempt to establish a liberal republic.
• The October Revolution: In this phase, the Soviets, increasingly influenced and led by the Bolshevik Party under Vladimir Lenin, and with the strategic organization of Leon Trotsky, seized power through an armed insurrection. They ousted the provisional government led by Alexander Kerensky and dismantled the former bourgeois state apparatus, including the gendarmerie, the Russian armed forces, and private ownership of major means of production and services. The Constituent Assembly was also dissolved.

These institutions were replaced by workers' supervision, the dictatorship of the proletariat, Soviet democracy, worker control of production, land redistribution to peasants (following the expropriation of landlords and capitalists), the Red Guard, and the Red Army, organized and led by Trotsky. Furthermore, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was negotiated, and the right to self-determination was granted to nationalities within the Russian Empire.

This second revolution spread widely, impacting both urban and rural areas. While significant historical events occurred in Petrograd and Moscow, a parallel movement developed and expanded in the countryside, particularly in fertile regions like southeastern Ukraine, where farmers seized and redistributed land, organized popular assemblies, and formed armed groups.