Russian Revolution

Condition in Russia Pre-Revolution

• Most European countries by this time were either Republics or Constitutional monarchies. But Russia was still under autocratic rule of Czars. 
• Serfdom abolished in 1861 but condition of peasants not improved. 
• Small land holding with no capital to develop them. 
• Bad working condition for workers. 
• Late industrialisation of Russia. After 1850's developed very fast
• investment from foreign countries, unconcerned about Russian people. 
• Russian capitalists had insufficient capital so exploited workers = low wages.
• No political right to worker. 
• Widespread hostility towards Czars. 
• Inflexible, inefficient bureaucracy. 
• Cultural suppression of Non-Russian nationalities. 

Growth of Revolutionary Movements in Russia

• "going to the people" - intellectuals started preaching their ideas to the peasants. 
• George Plekhanov, follower of Marx, formed Russian Social Democratic Party in 1883. Other socialist group joined this and reformed as Russian Social Democratic Labour Party in 1898. 
• Two groups in this party
• Mensheviks : favoured party if the type which existed in France and Germany. Participate in election to Parliament.
• Bolsheviks : favoured a party of those who would abide by the discipline of the party and work for revolution. Leader = Lenin. 
• 1904 war between Russia and Japan
• Russian army suffered reverses in war, strengthned the revolutionay movement in Russia. 
• Bloody Sunday, 1905
• peaceful workers going to Winter Palace to present their petition to Czar. 
• Thousands of them killed, provoked unprecedent disturbance in Russia. 
• sections of the army and the navy revolted too. 
• Czar yielded and announced
• granting freedom of speech, press and association.
• conferred power to make laws through an elected body, "Duma".
• principles for making Russia a constitutional monarchy. 
• Czar later relapsed into his old ways. No hope for gradual reform.
• 1905 revolution failed but proved to be dress rehearsal for 1917 revolution. Aroused the people and prepared them for revolution. 
• Russia involvement in WWI
• to satisfy its imperialist ambition.
• Czarist state incapable of modern warfare. 
• unmindful of condition of soilders at front. 

Lenin's "The fundamental law for successful revolution."

1. People should fully understand that revolution is necessary and be ready to sacrifice their lives for it.
2. The existing government should be in a state of crisis to make it possible for it to be overthrown rapidly. 

1917 Revolution

• demonstration by working class women trying to purchase bread.
• followed by general strike of workers, later joined by soldiers. 
• In March 1917, St. Petersburg fell into the hands of revolutionaries, soon took over Moscow too.
• Czar gave up throne and provisional government formed. This is known as February Revolution. 
• Provisional government under Kerensky lost people support due to non-compliance of revolution demands. 
• Winter Palace occupied by group of Sailors in October, led to fall of Kerensky government. This is known as October Revolution.

Objectives of Russian Revolution

1. Peace.
2. Land to the tiller.
3. Control of industry by workers.
4. Equal status for non-Russian nationalities. 

Civil War

• After October Revolution, officers of the army of the fallen Czar organised an armed rebellion against the Soviet State.
• England, France, Japan, US and others provided help to rebels. 
• War ended in 1920. Even though Red Army was ill-equipped and composed mainly of peasants and workers defeated the better equipped and better trained forces. 

Effects of Russian Revolution

• Russia withdrew from WWI.
• Territories ceded to Germany as a price for peace. 
• Estates of landlords, the Church and the Czar confiscated  and transferred to peasants' societies to be allotted to peasants families to be cultivated without hired labour. 
• Control of industries transferred to shop committees of workers. 
• Banks and Insurance companies, large industries, mines, water transport and railways nationalised. 
• Foreign debts repudiated and foreign investment confiscated. 
• Overthrow of autocracy and destruction of aristocracy and the powers of church.
• Czarist empire transformed into a new state called Union if Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR).
• Private profit eliminated from the system of production.
• Economic planning adopted by State to build a technologically advanced economy at a fast rate and to eliminate glaring inequalities in society. 
• Right to work became a constitutional right. 
• Education was given high priority. 
• Equality of all the nationalities in USSR was recognised. 

Effect of Russian Revolution on World

• Russian revolution was the first successful revolution in history which proclaimed the building of a socialist society as its objective.
• Communist International/ Third International/ Comintern formed for promoting revolutions in an international scale.
• Left wing sections in many socialist parties now formed themselves into communist parties and they affiliated themselves to Comintern. 
• Comintern decided on policies to be followed by all communist parties.
• Russia openly supported the cause of independence of all nations from foreign rule.