The slideshow above presents pictures, cartoons, and posters depicting the cries and effects that the 1905 revolution had on the Russian people. During the revolution, common people such as poor peasants and low-payed industrial workers felt that they were being cheated in Russian society. They felt that they deserved to have better lives with more money for all of the long, back-breaking hours they put in to keep the Mother Land alive.
REVOLUTION HITS THE MOTHER LAND IN 1905
Ever since the devastating and embarrassing defeat in the Russo-Japanese war (1904-1905), Russian social groups began to protest against the current social and political systems supported by Czar Nicholas II. Peaceful protests led to uncontrollable strikes, violent riots, and brutal terrorist assassinations all carefully planned by the Union of Liberation (Russian revolutionaries). The purpose of this revolution that quickly caught on among the common people in Russia was to convince the Czar to transform the government from an autocracy (absolute monarchy) into a constitutional monarchy. Highly educated Russians began to see that a political change in Russia was not only necessary, but it was also possible to accomplish. The classes of Russian people who revolted included industry workers, peasants who worked in the agricultural business, and educated students and teachers.
Since absolutism was highly common (practically a way of life) in Europe, Czar Nick was not going to just give up his throne and absolute power. So the people thought that by vouching for a “nicer” form of absolutism, in which the Czar rules according to a constitution, they would obtain better lifestyles lives and laws that benefited the people as a whole. These Russians practiced the writings and beliefs of John Locke (an English philosopher and physician known as the “Father of Classical Liberalism”) and François-Marie Arouet ( known as Voltaire, was a French writer, historian, and philosopher who gained fame for his witty remarks and his defense of freedom of expression of the common people). The Russian revolutionaries advocated for the freedom of life, liberty, and property mentioned by Locke. They also wished for the freedom of thought and expression of ideas that Voltaire bargained for. The revolution that took place in Russia was fueled by the desire for a better life with more money. The Russian people were not asking the Czar to step down from the throne, but to reform the ways that governed the Mother Land. Unfortunately, the people did not get what they wanted and they realized that Czar Nicholas was not on their side. These tensions would eventually reappear in a little over a decade, however, they were sparked by social, economic, political, and military issues.
This revolution in Russia officially began on Sunday January 22, 1905. Roughly 150,000 peaceful protesters lead by Orthodox priest father Gapon marched through the snowy streets of St. Petersburg (capital of Russia) to the Winter Palace of Czar Nicholas II. They advocated for bread (due to a recent food shortage in the country) and for equal representation in the government. These peaceful Russians were mistaken by the Imperial Guard (military units that protected the Czar) to be violent and troublesome revolutionaries that challenged the power of the Czar. The troops open-fired on the protesters and killed between 3,000-50,000 of them (numbers vary between police reports and eye witness accounts). After this, complete hell was raised in Russia.
Bloody Sunday Petition: What the people wanted
"Oh Sire, we working men and inhabitants of St. Petersburg, our wives, our children and our parents, helpless and aged women and men, have come to You our ruler, in search of justice and protection. We are beggars, we are oppressed and overburdened with work, we are insulted, we are not looked on as human beings but as slaves. The moment has come for us when death would be better than the prolongation of our intolerable sufferings.We are seeking here our last salvation. Do not refuse to help Your people. Destroy the wall between Yourself and Your people."
Czar Nicholas II Diary Entry in response to Bloody Sunday:
"A painful day. There have been serious disorders in St. Petersburg because workmen wanted to come up to the Winter Palace. Troops had to open fire in several places in the city; there were many killed and wounded. God, how painful and sad."
The revolution spread rapidly across the nation. Peasants rioted, industry workers went on strikes, and educated students refused to take exams. Czar Nick's Uncle Sergei (Grand Duke) was assassinated and sailors on the Russian battleship 'Potemkin' mutinied against their commanding officers. The demands of the people became more political: freedom of speech, a new elected Parliament, and the right to form political parties. In October of 1905, a Moscow strike spread to other major Russian cities. Students, workers, doctors, teachers, and revolutionaries rioted for an immediate reform. The St. Petersburg Soviet of Worker's Deputies (working class union) was formed as a result of these strikes on October 26, 1905. To ease the tensions of the revolting people, Czar Nick issued the October Manifesto on October 30, 1905. This document gave the people freedom of speech and assembly and the guarantee that no law would be passed without the consent of the Duma (Russian Parliament officially meant to represent the common people). However, the efforts of the Czar failed and matters only got worse when the troops from the Russo-Japanese war returned home. Some remained loyal to Nick while others joined the cause of the Revolution. Nick used the loyal troops to crush rebellions in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and throughout the Russian countryside. It was because of the Czar's actions that the people realized that he truly did not care about their well-being.
So how did all of this start? Well, the 1905 revolution occurred for a number of reasons:
· Social
o Peasants were given shares of land in an attempt to form a profitable land owning class. This failed because peasants had to share the land in communities, the land was infertile, and not enough food was produced for them to eat.
o Russian Jews were ostracized from society which resulted in a large and unhappy Jewish population.
o Industrial workers got tired of the Czar.
§ They had low wages and child labor was enforced
o Students refused to take exams and go to classes.
§ They supported strikes and riots
· Economic
o Free market policies were failing
o Agriculture production halted (no food)
o Price of grain dropped
o Foreign debt was high and the need for imports rose drastically
o Famine struck the land of the peasants
o Peasants were unable to fully pay their taxes
· Military
o War and military arms races consumed most of the government.
o The Russo-Japanese war devastated the people, embarrassed the Czar, and turned most of the Russian army against the purpose of the Czar.
· Political
o People grew tired with Czar
o Russians were upset that Nicholas II was not making an effort to make things better.
o The October Manifesto had absolutely no positive effect whatsoever.
o Most of all, the people were appalled by the violence used by Czar Nick to overthrow rebellions despite his promises made in the October Manifesto.
(This can be related to the scene from "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" in which Katniss, Haymitch, and Peeta are traveling on the Victor's tour. During their journey on a train, they pass by a building in one of the districts with some graffiti on it. It reads, "THE ODDS ARE NEVER IN OUR FAVOR!". In the movie, the people are severely oppressed by the current government with President Snow at its head. People who live near Snow in the Capitol have rich and carefree lives while the people in the districts are starving and struggling to survive. The government almost never listens to any of their cries nor agrees to make an effort to make things better and more equal. This graffiti symbolizes the distress and suffering that not only the common people in the movie experienced, but also what the Russian peasants, workers, and students went through during the 1905 revolution. No matter what they did or said, the Russian people were not given any attention by the Czar or any of his associates. The one time that Czar Nick made an effort to ease tensions ultimately failed and proved to the people that he simply did not care about their well-being.)
The movements for revolution that started on Bloody Sunday also spread among peasants and striking workers and to the countries of Poland, Finland, and some Baltic Provinces. These countries/states were a part of the Russian empire and were inspired by the courage of the 1905 revolutionaries in Russia to demand immediate independence from the Mother Land. Revolutions tend to give people and entire nations hope of a better life that is not governed by fear, but one that is governed by true justice and freedom.
The February Revolution and the Bolshevik Revolution: 1917
In they year of 1917, two revolutions took Russia by storm which officially ended the reign of the Czars. These revolutions sparked social and political reforms that resulted in the development of the Soviet Union. During this time, food shortages lead to revolts and strikes that forced Czar Nicholas II to resign his power over Russia.
February 1917:
The majority of the Russian population got sick and tired of Czar Nick by 1917. The government was corrupt, officials were living filthily rich lives, the economy seemed to be getting worse, people were starving, work conditions were bad, and to top it all off Czar Nick got rid of the Duma (which was supposed to represent the people as a whole). Russian involvement in World War I was the ultimate cause for the revolution in February. Russia's military was a joke compared to Germany's. Unfortunately, Russia suffered the most casualties in the war. The costly arms race that Russia competed in killed the economy which turned the people against the Czar. They wanted Czar Nick out of Russia for good (no more absolute rulers). On March 8, 1917 starving Russians rampaged through the streets of St. Petersburg and demanded that they be given bread to eat. Striking industrial workers witnessed the revolt and quickly got involved. They supported the hungry people by fighting against the police and refusing to leave. Two days later on March 10th, the strike had inspired all industrial workers in St. Petersburg. Workers formed mobs and destroyed police buildings. These uncontrollable strikers elected deputies (or representatives) to the St. Petersburg Soviet (also called the Petrograd Soviet). This council was a kind of workers committee that was meant to support the rights of workers in Russian factories and to defend the starving peasants. On March 11th, the Czar's St. Petersburg army troops went into the streets and open fired on the revolutionaries to crush the rebellion. Protesters were killed but there were many others that still remained in the cold streets. On that same day, Czar Nick dissolved the Duma. At this time, the troops began to hear the cries of the people. They started to hesitate and on March 12th, the troops joined the side of the striking Russian people. They formed small committees to elect deputies to the Petrograd Soviet. Eventually, the Russian government surrendered and resigned. It became a weak provisional government (called the Duma) that acted in cooperation with the Petrograd Soviet to control the revolution. On March 14th, the Petrograd Soviet released Order #1 which exclaimed that Russian sailors and soldiers shall only obey orders that did not contradict the Petrograd Soviet. On March 15, 1917 Czar Nicholas II was forced to step down from the throne thus ending the reign of the Czars in Russia.
Causes:
· Social
o It was hard to control the many different nationalities, languages and religions of people living in Russia during 1917.
§ Russia was huge! 125 million people across Russian Europe and Asia.
§ Bad communication across country
o Most of the peasants that lived in the country were under the control of the nobles who gave them bad land with terrible living conditions.
o There was opposition to the government from:
§ People wanted a Parliament like England.
§ Social revolutionaries supported a peasant revolt to take the land from the nobles away.
§ Communist groups rose to power (Mensheviks wanted Communism without a revolution while the Bolsheviks wanted a violent revolution).
§ Assassinations of government officials and protests against the Czar became very common
· Economic
o The farming industry in Russia was old and eventually came to a standstill. Little food was produced.
o Industrial workers were forced into a class that lived in poverty. They had little pay and children were forced to work in Russian factories.
o Wealthy middle class Russians came to power in the government. (it was unfair to the common people because they were not allowed to form political parties while the rich middle class got power because they had money).
· Political
o Czar Nicholas unfairly controlled all the business of government COMPLETELY alone. He was a weak and refused to support a reform.
o The government was corrupt and greedy.
§ Did not work for the common good of the people.
· Military
o World War I absolutely DEVASTATED the Russian economy. Millions of dollars were lost to the arms race and Russia lost an entire generation of young soldiers.
o (Not to mention the recent defeat in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905)
o Many soldiers and sailors in the Russian military began to disagree with the ways of the Czar and supported the cause of the revolution.
Lenin, the Bolsheviks, and the "October Revolution" in 1917:
LENIN:
Vladimir Lenin began the Bolshevik revolution in Russia in 1917 and founded the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). His full name was Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov and he was born on April 22, 1870. Vladimir adopted the last name "Lenin" while conducting illegal underground political party business. He was the third of six children in a highly-educated Russian family. During his studies at Kazan University (a well-known Russian law school), Lenin was forced into exile at his grandfather's estate in a small Russian village. It was here that Lenin read the radical literature of Karl Marx (the German philosopher who dreamed up Communism in his book Das Kapital which heavily impacted Lenin’s thinking). In January of 1889, Lenin became a Marxist. When released, Lenin went to St. Petersburg to share his ideas of reform with other Marxists and Russian peasants. Lenin was arrested yet again and was exiled to Siberia. After his second exile, Lenin formed a newspaper called the "Iskra" to unite Russian and European Marxists. At the Second Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party in 1903, Lenin demanded a party leadership community, one in which the workers were the heart and soul. He said, “Give us an organization of revolutionaries, and we will overturn Russia!” The Russo-Japanese war in 1905 only fueled Lenin's political beliefs worldview. During World War I, Lenin went into exile yet again, this time in Switzerland. However, revolutionary politics remained his main focus. When Lenin returned to a tired, hungry, Czar-less, and weak Russia in 1917, he criticized the new Provisional Government (made up of liberal parties). Lenin supported a Soviet government which would be ruled by soldiers, peasants, and workers.
Bolshevik Revolution:
On November 6th and 7th in 1917, Lenin and the Bolshevik revolutionaries overthrew the weak provisional government that proved to be an obstacle to Lenin's political views. There was almost no blood shed on those days. Lenin and his comrades occupied government buildings and the city of St. Petersburg. They quickly formed a Leninism-Marxist Soviet government that was lead by Lenin himself. As ruler, Lenin's Soviet government made peace with Germany, nationalized Russian industry, and redistributed land among the people. His actions sparked three years of civil war starting in 1918: The Whites (anti-Soviet army headed by former Czarist generals) vs. the Reds (Lenin and the Bolsheviks). To eliminate all opposition within the civilian population of Russia, Lenin launched a violent campaign called the Red Terror. In 1920, Lenin's forces successfully defeated the White Army. However, Lenin soon found trouble in ruling the world's first Marxist state. (peasant strikes and the rise of Joseph Stalin).
Cause:
The cause for the Bolshevik revolution was sparked by political, social, economic, and military issues. Inflation was slowly killing the Russian economy and the newly established, temporary, and weak provisional government began to grow unpopular among the Russian people (especially Lenin and the Bolsheviks. This is because the provisional government decided to remain in World War I and postponed land reforms. Peasants demanded more land, however, they were denied yet again (these people never could catch a break). To top it all off, almost every Russian was pissed about their seemingly endless involvement in World War I. The nation was tired and the army lost all courage, spirit, and enthusiasm. The Bolsheviks encouraged soldiers and sailors to abandon their cause. Lenin and the Bolsheviks inspired workers and peasants with the writings and ideas of Karl Marx in which the new Russian State (USSR) would be ruled by workers, peasants, and soldiers.
Slideshow:
Below is a slideshow depicting images of the February and Bolshevik Revolutions that took hold of Russia during the year of 1917. Everybody seemed to be tired of Czar Nicholas II and they blamed all of their hardships in life on him. It was because of this that people were able to unite and support the cause of revolution in the Mother Land. Moscow strikes influenced countless other major Russian cities to revolt. Strikes and open revolts of students, workers, and peasants forced the Czar off of the throne. Just a few months later, the Bolsheviks came to power and fought a civil war against the White, Anti-Soviet army. The Bolsheviks were able to become so powerful by convincing the people that the current provisional government, that had temporarily taken over for the Czar, was weak and inefficient. Bad government, a shaky economy, an angry population, and a weak military ultimately caused the Russian people to revolt against authority.
REVOLUTION HITS THE MOTHER LAND IN 1905
Ever since the devastating and embarrassing defeat in the Russo-Japanese war (1904-1905), Russian social groups began to protest against the current social and political systems supported by Czar Nicholas II. Peaceful protests led to uncontrollable strikes, violent riots, and brutal terrorist assassinations all carefully planned by the Union of Liberation (Russian revolutionaries). The purpose of this revolution that quickly caught on among the common people in Russia was to convince the Czar to transform the government from an autocracy (absolute monarchy) into a constitutional monarchy. Highly educated Russians began to see that a political change in Russia was not only necessary, but it was also possible to accomplish. The classes of Russian people who revolted included industry workers, peasants who worked in the agricultural business, and educated students and teachers.
Since absolutism was highly common (practically a way of life) in Europe, Czar Nick was not going to just give up his throne and absolute power. So the people thought that by vouching for a “nicer” form of absolutism, in which the Czar rules according to a constitution, they would obtain better lifestyles lives and laws that benefited the people as a whole. These Russians practiced the writings and beliefs of John Locke (an English philosopher and physician known as the “Father of Classical Liberalism”) and François-Marie Arouet ( known as Voltaire, was a French writer, historian, and philosopher who gained fame for his witty remarks and his defense of freedom of expression of the common people). The Russian revolutionaries advocated for the freedom of life, liberty, and property mentioned by Locke. They also wished for the freedom of thought and expression of ideas that Voltaire bargained for. The revolution that took place in Russia was fueled by the desire for a better life with more money. The Russian people were not asking the Czar to step down from the throne, but to reform the ways that governed the Mother Land. Unfortunately, the people did not get what they wanted and they realized that Czar Nicholas was not on their side. These tensions would eventually reappear in a little over a decade, however, they were sparked by social, economic, political, and military issues.
This revolution in Russia officially began on Sunday January 22, 1905. Roughly 150,000 peaceful protesters lead by Orthodox priest father Gapon marched through the snowy streets of St. Petersburg (capital of Russia) to the Winter Palace of Czar Nicholas II. They advocated for bread (due to a recent food shortage in the country) and for equal representation in the government. These peaceful Russians were mistaken by the Imperial Guard (military units that protected the Czar) to be violent and troublesome revolutionaries that challenged the power of the Czar. The troops open-fired on the protesters and killed between 3,000-50,000 of them (numbers vary between police reports and eye witness accounts). After this, complete hell was raised in Russia.
Bloody Sunday Petition: What the people wanted
"Oh Sire, we working men and inhabitants of St. Petersburg, our wives, our children and our parents, helpless and aged women and men, have come to You our ruler, in search of justice and protection. We are beggars, we are oppressed and overburdened with work, we are insulted, we are not looked on as human beings but as slaves. The moment has come for us when death would be better than the prolongation of our intolerable sufferings.We are seeking here our last salvation. Do not refuse to help Your people. Destroy the wall between Yourself and Your people."
Czar Nicholas II Diary Entry in response to Bloody Sunday:
"A painful day. There have been serious disorders in St. Petersburg because workmen wanted to come up to the Winter Palace. Troops had to open fire in several places in the city; there were many killed and wounded. God, how painful and sad."
The revolution spread rapidly across the nation. Peasants rioted, industry workers went on strikes, and educated students refused to take exams. Czar Nick's Uncle Sergei (Grand Duke) was assassinated and sailors on the Russian battleship 'Potemkin' mutinied against their commanding officers. The demands of the people became more political: freedom of speech, a new elected Parliament, and the right to form political parties. In October of 1905, a Moscow strike spread to other major Russian cities. Students, workers, doctors, teachers, and revolutionaries rioted for an immediate reform. The St. Petersburg Soviet of Worker's Deputies (working class union) was formed as a result of these strikes on October 26, 1905. To ease the tensions of the revolting people, Czar Nick issued the October Manifesto on October 30, 1905. This document gave the people freedom of speech and assembly and the guarantee that no law would be passed without the consent of the Duma (Russian Parliament officially meant to represent the common people). However, the efforts of the Czar failed and matters only got worse when the troops from the Russo-Japanese war returned home. Some remained loyal to Nick while others joined the cause of the Revolution. Nick used the loyal troops to crush rebellions in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and throughout the Russian countryside. It was because of the Czar's actions that the people realized that he truly did not care about their well-being.
So how did all of this start? Well, the 1905 revolution occurred for a number of reasons:
· Social
o Peasants were given shares of land in an attempt to form a profitable land owning class. This failed because peasants had to share the land in communities, the land was infertile, and not enough food was produced for them to eat.
o Russian Jews were ostracized from society which resulted in a large and unhappy Jewish population.
o Industrial workers got tired of the Czar.
§ They had low wages and child labor was enforced
o Students refused to take exams and go to classes.
§ They supported strikes and riots
· Economic
o Free market policies were failing
o Agriculture production halted (no food)
o Price of grain dropped
o Foreign debt was high and the need for imports rose drastically
o Famine struck the land of the peasants
o Peasants were unable to fully pay their taxes
· Military
o War and military arms races consumed most of the government.
o The Russo-Japanese war devastated the people, embarrassed the Czar, and turned most of the Russian army against the purpose of the Czar.
· Political
o People grew tired with Czar
o Russians were upset that Nicholas II was not making an effort to make things better.
o The October Manifesto had absolutely no positive effect whatsoever.
o Most of all, the people were appalled by the violence used by Czar Nick to overthrow rebellions despite his promises made in the October Manifesto.
(This can be related to the scene from "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" in which Katniss, Haymitch, and Peeta are traveling on the Victor's tour. During their journey on a train, they pass by a building in one of the districts with some graffiti on it. It reads, "THE ODDS ARE NEVER IN OUR FAVOR!". In the movie, the people are severely oppressed by the current government with President Snow at its head. People who live near Snow in the Capitol have rich and carefree lives while the people in the districts are starving and struggling to survive. The government almost never listens to any of their cries nor agrees to make an effort to make things better and more equal. This graffiti symbolizes the distress and suffering that not only the common people in the movie experienced, but also what the Russian peasants, workers, and students went through during the 1905 revolution. No matter what they did or said, the Russian people were not given any attention by the Czar or any of his associates. The one time that Czar Nick made an effort to ease tensions ultimately failed and proved to the people that he simply did not care about their well-being.)
The movements for revolution that started on Bloody Sunday also spread among peasants and striking workers and to the countries of Poland, Finland, and some Baltic Provinces. These countries/states were a part of the Russian empire and were inspired by the courage of the 1905 revolutionaries in Russia to demand immediate independence from the Mother Land. Revolutions tend to give people and entire nations hope of a better life that is not governed by fear, but one that is governed by true justice and freedom.
The February Revolution and the Bolshevik Revolution: 1917
In they year of 1917, two revolutions took Russia by storm which officially ended the reign of the Czars. These revolutions sparked social and political reforms that resulted in the development of the Soviet Union. During this time, food shortages lead to revolts and strikes that forced Czar Nicholas II to resign his power over Russia.
February 1917:
The majority of the Russian population got sick and tired of Czar Nick by 1917. The government was corrupt, officials were living filthily rich lives, the economy seemed to be getting worse, people were starving, work conditions were bad, and to top it all off Czar Nick got rid of the Duma (which was supposed to represent the people as a whole). Russian involvement in World War I was the ultimate cause for the revolution in February. Russia's military was a joke compared to Germany's. Unfortunately, Russia suffered the most casualties in the war. The costly arms race that Russia competed in killed the economy which turned the people against the Czar. They wanted Czar Nick out of Russia for good (no more absolute rulers). On March 8, 1917 starving Russians rampaged through the streets of St. Petersburg and demanded that they be given bread to eat. Striking industrial workers witnessed the revolt and quickly got involved. They supported the hungry people by fighting against the police and refusing to leave. Two days later on March 10th, the strike had inspired all industrial workers in St. Petersburg. Workers formed mobs and destroyed police buildings. These uncontrollable strikers elected deputies (or representatives) to the St. Petersburg Soviet (also called the Petrograd Soviet). This council was a kind of workers committee that was meant to support the rights of workers in Russian factories and to defend the starving peasants. On March 11th, the Czar's St. Petersburg army troops went into the streets and open fired on the revolutionaries to crush the rebellion. Protesters were killed but there were many others that still remained in the cold streets. On that same day, Czar Nick dissolved the Duma. At this time, the troops began to hear the cries of the people. They started to hesitate and on March 12th, the troops joined the side of the striking Russian people. They formed small committees to elect deputies to the Petrograd Soviet. Eventually, the Russian government surrendered and resigned. It became a weak provisional government (called the Duma) that acted in cooperation with the Petrograd Soviet to control the revolution. On March 14th, the Petrograd Soviet released Order #1 which exclaimed that Russian sailors and soldiers shall only obey orders that did not contradict the Petrograd Soviet. On March 15, 1917 Czar Nicholas II was forced to step down from the throne thus ending the reign of the Czars in Russia.
Causes:
· Social
o It was hard to control the many different nationalities, languages and religions of people living in Russia during 1917.
§ Russia was huge! 125 million people across Russian Europe and Asia.
§ Bad communication across country
o Most of the peasants that lived in the country were under the control of the nobles who gave them bad land with terrible living conditions.
o There was opposition to the government from:
§ People wanted a Parliament like England.
§ Social revolutionaries supported a peasant revolt to take the land from the nobles away.
§ Communist groups rose to power (Mensheviks wanted Communism without a revolution while the Bolsheviks wanted a violent revolution).
§ Assassinations of government officials and protests against the Czar became very common
· Economic
o The farming industry in Russia was old and eventually came to a standstill. Little food was produced.
o Industrial workers were forced into a class that lived in poverty. They had little pay and children were forced to work in Russian factories.
o Wealthy middle class Russians came to power in the government. (it was unfair to the common people because they were not allowed to form political parties while the rich middle class got power because they had money).
· Political
o Czar Nicholas unfairly controlled all the business of government COMPLETELY alone. He was a weak and refused to support a reform.
o The government was corrupt and greedy.
§ Did not work for the common good of the people.
· Military
o World War I absolutely DEVASTATED the Russian economy. Millions of dollars were lost to the arms race and Russia lost an entire generation of young soldiers.
o (Not to mention the recent defeat in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905)
o Many soldiers and sailors in the Russian military began to disagree with the ways of the Czar and supported the cause of the revolution.
Lenin, the Bolsheviks, and the "October Revolution" in 1917:
LENIN:
Vladimir Lenin began the Bolshevik revolution in Russia in 1917 and founded the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). His full name was Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov and he was born on April 22, 1870. Vladimir adopted the last name "Lenin" while conducting illegal underground political party business. He was the third of six children in a highly-educated Russian family. During his studies at Kazan University (a well-known Russian law school), Lenin was forced into exile at his grandfather's estate in a small Russian village. It was here that Lenin read the radical literature of Karl Marx (the German philosopher who dreamed up Communism in his book Das Kapital which heavily impacted Lenin’s thinking). In January of 1889, Lenin became a Marxist. When released, Lenin went to St. Petersburg to share his ideas of reform with other Marxists and Russian peasants. Lenin was arrested yet again and was exiled to Siberia. After his second exile, Lenin formed a newspaper called the "Iskra" to unite Russian and European Marxists. At the Second Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party in 1903, Lenin demanded a party leadership community, one in which the workers were the heart and soul. He said, “Give us an organization of revolutionaries, and we will overturn Russia!” The Russo-Japanese war in 1905 only fueled Lenin's political beliefs worldview. During World War I, Lenin went into exile yet again, this time in Switzerland. However, revolutionary politics remained his main focus. When Lenin returned to a tired, hungry, Czar-less, and weak Russia in 1917, he criticized the new Provisional Government (made up of liberal parties). Lenin supported a Soviet government which would be ruled by soldiers, peasants, and workers.
Bolshevik Revolution:
On November 6th and 7th in 1917, Lenin and the Bolshevik revolutionaries overthrew the weak provisional government that proved to be an obstacle to Lenin's political views. There was almost no blood shed on those days. Lenin and his comrades occupied government buildings and the city of St. Petersburg. They quickly formed a Leninism-Marxist Soviet government that was lead by Lenin himself. As ruler, Lenin's Soviet government made peace with Germany, nationalized Russian industry, and redistributed land among the people. His actions sparked three years of civil war starting in 1918: The Whites (anti-Soviet army headed by former Czarist generals) vs. the Reds (Lenin and the Bolsheviks). To eliminate all opposition within the civilian population of Russia, Lenin launched a violent campaign called the Red Terror. In 1920, Lenin's forces successfully defeated the White Army. However, Lenin soon found trouble in ruling the world's first Marxist state. (peasant strikes and the rise of Joseph Stalin).
Cause:
The cause for the Bolshevik revolution was sparked by political, social, economic, and military issues. Inflation was slowly killing the Russian economy and the newly established, temporary, and weak provisional government began to grow unpopular among the Russian people (especially Lenin and the Bolsheviks. This is because the provisional government decided to remain in World War I and postponed land reforms. Peasants demanded more land, however, they were denied yet again (these people never could catch a break). To top it all off, almost every Russian was pissed about their seemingly endless involvement in World War I. The nation was tired and the army lost all courage, spirit, and enthusiasm. The Bolsheviks encouraged soldiers and sailors to abandon their cause. Lenin and the Bolsheviks inspired workers and peasants with the writings and ideas of Karl Marx in which the new Russian State (USSR) would be ruled by workers, peasants, and soldiers.
Slideshow:
Below is a slideshow depicting images of the February and Bolshevik Revolutions that took hold of Russia during the year of 1917. Everybody seemed to be tired of Czar Nicholas II and they blamed all of their hardships in life on him. It was because of this that people were able to unite and support the cause of revolution in the Mother Land. Moscow strikes influenced countless other major Russian cities to revolt. Strikes and open revolts of students, workers, and peasants forced the Czar off of the throne. Just a few months later, the Bolsheviks came to power and fought a civil war against the White, Anti-Soviet army. The Bolsheviks were able to become so powerful by convincing the people that the current provisional government, that had temporarily taken over for the Czar, was weak and inefficient. Bad government, a shaky economy, an angry population, and a weak military ultimately caused the Russian people to revolt against authority.