The Russian Revolution, 1905–21

The Russian Revolution, 1905–21

The 1905 Revolution

  • The 1905 Russian Revolution was prompted by various factors including the Russo-Japanese War and Bloody Sunday massacre.
  • Bloody Sunday led by Father Gapon was a peaceful protest that turned violent when authorities fired upon the protestors.
  • The rebellion instigated a series of protests known as the Revolution of 1905, leading to political reforms.

October Manifesto

  • The October Manifesto was a response by Tsar Nicholas II to the 1905 Revolution, promising basic civil liberties and a Duma or legislative assembly.
  • However, the Tsar’s subsequent establishment of the Third Duma led to disappointment due to its limited power.
  • Despite the reforms, public dissatisfaction continued, setting the stage for the upcoming revolutions.

Causes of the February Revolution

  • The Russian involvement in World War I led to terrible losses and economic strain, escalating societal discontent.
  • The distasteful handling of the war by Tsar Nicholas II coupled with the influence of Rasputin further exacerbated public unrest.
  • Severe food shortages during the winter of 1916-17 led to the February Revolution.

The February Revolution (1917)

  • The February Revolution began with a series of strikes and riots in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) over rationing.
  • Tsar’s abdication in March 1917 marked the fall of the Romanov dynasty after 300 years of rule.
  • The Provisional Government took over, sharing power with the Petrograd Soviet, marking the first phase of the Russian Revolution.

The October Revolution (1917)

  • The October Revolution, led by Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks, overthrew the Provisional Government.
  • The Bolsheviks gained support of the working class and soldiers through promises like “Peace, Land, and Bread.”
  • Lenin’s government made peace with Germany in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, withdrawing Russia from World War I.

The Civil War (1918–21)

  • The opposing White Army represented various social and political factions opposing the Bolshevik’s Red Army.
  • The Civil War ended with the Red Army emerging victorious, leading to the establishment of the Soviet Russia.
  • The War Communism policy during this time saw seizure of grain, leading to famine in some parts of Russia.

Establishment of the USSR

  • The USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) was established in 1922 as a federation of various nationalities.
  • This marked a significant shift from the old imperial regime, establishing socialism as the state ideology.
  • Lenin’s death in 1924 marked another critical juncture ending the first phase of revolutionary Russia, paving the way for Joseph Stalin’s rise to power.