What Led Up To The Russian Revolution

Russia struggled to provide food for its populations. Citizens took control into their own hands, Ludovic Naudeau wrote in October 1917, “One morning recently I was awakened by the cries of my neighbor in the next room. His boots had been stolen. The same day the manager of a newspaper office told me that he had been robbed six of pairs of pantaloons, … “Four hundred thefts every night!” he cried; that is the average for the last two weeks,”(One Aspect of Bolshevist Liberty). Russia could not even uphold itself because the economy was not successful compared to other countries. This led people to desire a change in the government; therefore this led to the Russian Revolution. People went to different maters to get what they wanted such as stealing since they were not getting the aid that they needed and they needed financial support. This caused them to protest against their government because many people from the lower class could not take care of their families. This cause led to a greater impact compared to Tsarist weak authority.

In 1905 and 1917 Russia was tormented by chaotic revolutions. The workers and the intelligentsia had arrived at the point of hating the autocracy because they could no longer endure the suffering, hunger and repression that the tsarist policies brought with them. Years later Lenin referred to the revolution of 1905 as a “dress rehearsal for the October Revolution” of 1917. In 1905 tsardom nearly fell. Nicholas II succeeded in remaining in power, stabilizing the situation, only thanks to various concessions. However, his continuing to rule harshly and unwisely brought him to be forced to abdicate in the February of 1917, signing the end of the Russian monarchy.

The Russian Revolution began in 1917 and lasted until late 1930’s, the revolution was very brutal with total death of 3 million people and 7 million people were arrested (Document 12). The revolution broke out when Nicholas II comes to power because Bloody Sunday leads to Duma, then he steps down and the Duma sets up a provisional government thus sparking the want for domination and the revolution kicks off (Book). By the end of the revolution Russia was definitely weakened in some aspects but strengthened as a nation. Therefore, the Russian people were better off after the Russian Revolution because they benefited from a better economy, government, and living conditions.

tried to create a western style society. Nevertheless, this government led by Alexander Kerensky lasted for only seven months, by which at the end Lenin and the communist Bolsheviks seized power over Russia. When the peasants claimed land from the government the government refused which made the Bolsheviks extremely mad making them riot against the government. The Provisional Government lost to the

In 1917, a revolution started more specifically the Russian Revolution. Many people were impacted by this revolution. It started in 1905 when Russia was suffering military defeats in the Russo-Japanese War. Following, Russians flooded the streets protesting. About 300 people were killed and many were wounded. The two leaders during this time were Czar Nicholas II and Vladimir Lenin. Czar Nicholas II was the leader who caused the Russian Revolution because of his bad leadership.

This downfall came due to the amount of soldier and horses being placed into the war leaving the peasants at home with a loss of man power to continue a, "standard of living"( Causes of the Russian Revolution 2). Due to the decrease in man power, and materials to use at the home front, prices increased and a hunger endemic began. With hunger increasing and inflation of prices continuing strikes began, which eventually stopped transportation. When the transportation stopped supplies and food did not get to the soldiers at war decreasing the amount of people who believed in the czar. The goal of the peasants of the Russian Revolution of 1917, was to gain a new leader and for their voices to be heard. In March 1917, a riot of peasants, and soldiers stormed the streets with the support of the Duma, a group of government officials, forcing Nicolas II out of power.

The Russian Revolution actually has two important parts to it the February Revolution (March 1917) and the October Revolution (November 1917). The February Revolution, which took place in modern day St. Petersburg, was lethal to the royal government of Russia. It began with the bread, it was not like they did not have the supplies for the population, “the problem was the breakdown of the transport system” (Figes 68). The February Revolution was also largely caused by the ineffectiveness of the Russian military in World War One and the failure of the Russian empire throughout the last couple decades. The people of Russia were ashamed of the military throwing away their lives and having to eat sparingly to survive the winter. Peasants were so poor they could barely afford a piece of bread for a week. Mass demonstrations were held in the squares and violence took to the streets. People ambushed the royal guards in front of the palace and they were shot down by the insignificant force left to guard the capital. The revolution was largely leaderless as Russian people just wanted food

In 1917, there were many major world events going on. World War I was under place and had been since 1914. There were civil rights movements in the United States. A worldwide influenza epidemic had broken out. The Chicago White Sox won the world series against the New York Giants. During the year 1917, there was also a major revolution in Russia. The people of Russia split themselves into several political groups, all fighting over how the government should be run. One of these groups was the Bolshevik party. They were a communist party and ended up taking over Russia by the end of the revolution. For the revolution to begin and finally end with a communist power in Russia, there needed to be causes. The three major causes of the Russian Revolution were Russia’s participation in World War I, an unstable government and Vladimir Lenin.

Following WWI, sever strain was placed on Russia's weak government and economy, resulting in mass shortages and hunger. The people and soldiers turned against the Tsar, losing faith in his authority and power due to the mismanagement and failure of the war, his decision to take personal command of the army seemed to make him responsible for the defeats. Discontent grew amongst the people where they In March, growing civil unrest and discontentment erupted into open revolt and strikes in Petrograd, forcing the abdication of Nicholas II (1868-1918), the last Russian czar. The Duma then assumed control and declared a provisional government.  Eight months later, the radical Bolshevik party seized power from the Provisional government.

The Russian Revolution of 1917 set the country on a course that few other countries took in the 20th century. The shift from the direction of a democratic, parliamentary-style government to a one party communist rule was a drastic change that many did not and could not predict. Looking back on this key moment in Russian history, many historians ask the question ‘why did the political power in Russia shift to the Bolsheviks’? Since the revolution in 1905 Russia was becoming progressively more democratic, distributing power throughout the political sphere. This came to an abrupt halt when Vladimir Lenin was put into power by the Bolshevik takeover of the Provisional Government. Many authors have had different takes on this event. Two particularly interesting ones were Arthur Mendel and John D. Basil. Their pieces On Interpreting the Fate of Imperial Russia and Russia and the Bolshevik Revolution give various perspectives on the Russian Revolution and attempt to answer the question of the power shift. This key point in Russia’s history sets the tone for the next 100 years. Russia became a superpower, an enemy of the United States, started multiple wars directly and indirectly, and started using an economic system used by various countries around the world. Today we still see the effects of the 1917 Revolution. Looking at both Mendel’s and Basil’s attempt to answer why the power shifted to the Bolsheviks. Since both historian 's account of the events is different they cannot

In order for a great leader to succeed, he/she must recognizes the aspirations of his/her people and maintain an efficient government. Leaders who do not achieve those will most likely to rule poorly and often lead to destruction of their regimes. Their failures as leaders included policies that either pleased or benefited the people. During the early 18th century, tsar Nicholas II, took reign and caused chronic discontents brewing throughout Russia. His actions were seen as obstinate such as his managements of society and economy. With Russia’s poor economy resulted from WWI and increasing burden of tsar for industrial workers and soldiers, the provisional government was at stake. Growing civil unrest, coupled with chronic food shortages, erupted into revolts of peasants, forcing the abdication of Nicholas II. By the end of the nineteenth century, the economy, social organizations and military were at great decline, ending Russia’s long term imperial rule. It became the least advanced of the major European nations in political and social developments. However, some historians believed that the Revolution was caused by the government’s political oppression, while others claimed that it was the inability of tsar to fulfill Russia 's aspirations. While the utter political failures of WWI escalated paths to the Revolution, the primary cause for the Russian Revolution of 1917 was the revival of socio-economic tensions and

During the February Revolution, Czar Nicholas II, ruler of Russia was King since 1894, is forced to retire the throne by the Petrograd insurgents, and a provincial governement is installed in his place. Nicholas was neither trained nor inclined to rule, which did not help the autocracy he sought to preserve in an era desperate for change. The disastrous outcome of the Russo-Japanese War led to the Russian Revolution of 1905, Which the czar diffused only after signing a manifesto promising represenative governement adn bacic civil liberties in Russia. In 1914, Nicholas led his country into another costly war, and discontent in Russia grew as food became scarce, soldiers became war-weary, and devastating defeats on the eastern fron demonstrated

"Russia is a cauldron of boiling water, tightly closed and placed on a fire that is becoming hotter and hotter. I fear an explosion." (As It Was Lived: 4-18) This very sentence was spoken by a French traveler who visited St. Petersburg. The dramatic change of government from an absolute monarchy to a communist government in Russia came to be because of a variety of different reasons. The revolution came about through a long phase of repression, unrest, and poverty for the average working-class Russian of the 20th Century. A long line of tyrannical Tsars had ruled the country self-interestedly for many centuries, and over 95% of the country lived under severe economic and social conditions. Like a bridge that has too much weight pressing

Why were the Bolsheviks successful in seizing power? What were the forces and actions that made them successful in seizing power in October/November 1917? Prior to the 1917 Revolutions, there was constant unsettlement within Russia; there was a struggle for food, a struggle for economic control and a struggle for a stable government. The February Revolution brought an end to Tsar Nicholas II reign and emerged was a Provisional Government based on democratic ideals. Despite the Provisional Government’s success’ in implementing civil liberties, the Duma kept Russia in the First World War which not only continued the depletion of natural resources, but also heightened the discontent from citizens among all social classes.

For three centuries before the revolution, life in Russia was not peaceful. It was cold, hard, and bitter instead. “The end of serfdom was a major event in Russia; yet it just wasn 't enough.”, in 1861. Serfdom, under feudalism, is the the status of peasants in which they are bound to a lord, or master, works on their land, and can be sold like property. Despite serfs being given ‘freedom’, Russia was mostly ruled by the czar and nobles. The average person was, and stayed, poor. Therefore, World War I was not the main cause of the Russian revolution. This outdated feudal class structure, inability to modernize, lack of peace, and czars’ inept leaderships lead to the Russian Revolution.