Russia 1917 - 1924: Russian Revolution 1917

Communist Takeover

In 1917, Russia was a large empire under the control of Tsar Nicholas II, his family line had ruled Russia for three hundred years at this point. At this time, there existed a parliament known as the Duma who wanted a greater share of power in the country.  The conditions of World War One were causing instability and chaos within Russia and two revolutions came about in 1917.    March Revolution 1917:  In March 1917, the Tsar's government collapsed and Provisional Government was established by members of the Duma. This government was led by Alexander Kerensky.  From the beginning, this government had to share power with the Petrograd Soviet (composed of workers). The members of the Soviet were only to agree with the government permitted the whole worker's soviet agreed with it. This was a period of dual governance in Russia. Over its short lifespan, the Provisional Government did not carry out any major reforms. The biggest mistake of the Provisional Government was its decision to carry on in World War One. After a failed attack on Austria in June 1917, people began to turn their attention towards Vladimir Lenin. Lenin welcomed the people with the promise of "peace, bread, land".  The 'July Days':  Following the failure of an offensive against Austria in June, the Bolsheviks made an effort to seize power in Petrograd in July. However, Lenin made a serious mistake. Only small numbers actively supported the Bolsheviks and the uprising was easily suppressed by troops loyal troops. Some Bolshevik leaders were arrested and Lenin went to Finland.

Key Personality: Vladimir Lenin

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov was born in Russia in the year 1870. He became a member of the Social Democratic Party which was the Russian Communist Party. Lenin plotted with a small group of people to form a revolutionary group known as the Bolsheviks.  After a revolution in February 1917, Lenin returned to Petrograd from abroad. He began plotting a second revolution. In the October Revolution 1917, Lenin and the Bolsheviks managed to take over Russia but did not receive great support by any means. After signing a peace agreement with the Germans, they had to attempt to maintain power by fighting a civil war against those who opposed them (the Whites). The Bolsheviks were led by Lenin and Leon Trotsky, who led the Red Army.  Lenin pursued a policy of War Communism and set up the secret police (Cheka) to eliminate anyone who opposed him. By the time the Russian Civil War ended in 1921, Lenin realised how severe his policies had been, even to the point of sailors revolting at Kronstadt naval base. Soon after, he brought in the New Economic Policy, which helped farmers to sell more of their produce for profit.  Dora Kaplan in 1921 attempted to assassinate Lenin, he was shot but survived. However, from then on Lenin's health deteriorated and he suffered from a series of strokes. In his writing Last Testament, Lenin advocated collective leadership for the country going forward. Moreover, he warned his fellow compatriots about the dangers of Joseph Stalin. Lenin was the founder of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics before he died in 1924. 

October 1917 Revolution

In his April Theses, Lenin offered the people of Russia 'peace, bread, land' and promised to bring 'all power to the Soviets'. After an attempted revolt against the Provisional Government by pro-Tsarist supporters. The Bolsheviks were called in to defeat them.  In September, the Bolsheviks occupied the Petrograd Soviet and Leon Trotsky became the president of the Soviet. On the 7th November, the Red Guards led by Trotsky took over government buildings, national banks and the railway station. They obtained control in the Winter Palace without any resistance.  Lenin sought to introduce Communism to Russia. This involved:  The abolition of private property Government control of industry and agriculture Establishment of a one-party dictatorship 

Key Concept: Communism

Clinging to Power

Once Lenin had gotten a hold on power after the October Revolution he spent the next year finding his feet and trying to maintain his power: November 1917 - the Decree on Land was introduced; this involved the nationalisation of all land belonging to the crown, church and nobility and handing it over to the peasants November 1917 - Decrees Limited limited the working day to 8 hours, 48 hours a week November - workers became insured against accident and illness December - factories came under the control of the workers Soviet, while the banks were controlled by the Bolsheviks December - the Cheka (secret police) were established to protect the Bolsheviks The Cheka once set up made widespread arrests and executions of those opposed to the Communist regime Lenin had to allow elections for the Constituent Assembly; a majority of seats went to other political groups This Assembly met for one day in January 1918 before being dissolved by the Bolshevik Red Guards Lenin had the challenge of taking Russia out of the First World War. This came about through the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March, 1918). The terms of the treaty led to Russia losing: 25% of its land 33% of its farming land 33% of its manufacturing industry 80% of its coalmines 26% of its population   Historians on October 1917:  “The Bolsheviks came to power, not because they were superior manipulators or cynical opportunists, but because their policies, as formulated by Lenin in April and shaped by the events of the following months, placed them at the head of a genuinely popular movement”. (Paul Dukes, 2004)   “The events that led to the overthrow of the Provisional Government were not spontaneous but carefully plotted and staged by a tightly organised conspiracy…October was a classic coup d’etat, the capture of governmental authority by a small band, carried out, in deference to the democratic professions of the age, with a show of mass participation, but with hardly any mass involvement”. (Richard Pipes, a Polish historian)   “Having seized power, he (Lenin) shrugged off the cape of Social Democrat and donned the cloak of the Jacobin. All his attitudes were now conditioned by one consideration: to cling to power at any cost”. (Dmitri Volkogonov, a former Soviet military officer and historian)

The Bolsheviks and the Communist State

Communism promoted a number of beliefs: People are able to contribute to public well-being according to their ability, but should receive according to their needs The means of production should be owned collectively by the whole community, as opposed to capitalism Material interpretation of history; society developed through specific stages from slavery, feudalism, capitalism and communism would be next after the overthrowing of capitalism The proletariat (working class) would work together to overthrow the capitalist system Class was a feature of capitalist system; class should be destroyed and everyone treated equal The economy should be controlled by the government Lenin added to the ideas of Marx, he claimed that a government first needed to become a dictatorship in order to peaceful transition to a communist society