Not until Richard Pipes’s The Russian Revolution (1990) however, was there a serious reappraisal of the revolutions of 1917 as a whole. By 1917 the bond between the tsar and most of the Russian people had been broken. The suffering people and the common soldiers grew impatient and demanded immediate change and, above all, peace. The Regime's repressive policies and scandals further undermined its legitimacy. Sometime in the middle of the 19th century, Russia entered a phase of internal crisis that in 1917 would culminate in revolution. The main causes of the Russian Revolution of 1917 were the poverty of the peasant class, the rise of the urban industrial class, the antiquated and oppressed military, a growing intellectual movement, and the inefficiency and autocracy of the Tsarist regime. Russian Revolution, violent upheaval in Russia in 1917 that overthrew the czarist The catalyst for the revolution was the First World War. The Revolution is often inevitable because of the unequal nature of Russian society and its undemocratic political system. It saw the world’s first Communist government, and it led to a wave of communist-inspired revolutions around the world and, ultimately, the Cold War. The 1917 February revolution began as a series of protests at the situation in Russia, which included encroaching famine and was largely a result of the aforementioned poor decision-making on the Tsar Nicholas' part. What happened in Red … In the years following, Nicholas II failed to implement meaningful reforms, although some ‘real and positive changes. However, after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, Europe was plunged into war. Many of the Soviets were dominated by the Bolsheviks or Communists loyal to their exiled leader Lenin. Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, leader of the Bolsheviks, was living in exile when the … Best known for emancipating the serfs in 1861, Alexander II (r. 1855-1881) also initiated a number of other reforms with an aim to modernize his Empire. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The first factor that led to the 1917 Russian Revolution and the communist government that followed was Russia’s participation in World War I. For the sake of…, While Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey all survived their crises of 1917 and found the will and stamina for one last year of war, Russia succumbed. The catalyst for the revolution was the First World War. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. However, radicals were unhappy with the situation and plotted revolution, either in Russia or in exile, such as Lenin, the Bolshevik Party of Communists in Switzerland. On March 15, 1917, Nicholas II abdicated the throne. Russia’s economic growth did create a new middle class. But this doesn't solve all of Russia's problems. Why did the revolution occur: There were 2 major revolutions in Russia. The Russian Revolution of 1917 had people that would cause riots during the war. The Russian Empire was an autocracy, where effectively the Tsar’s will was the law. Their sacrifices and protests eventually made the revolution come true. This was exacerbated by corruption in the government and a scarcity of food that caused riots to break out first in the capital city of Petrograd and then in other cities. By February 1917, the situation was unbearable for the average Russian soldier and citizens. It sparked the beginning of a new era in Russia that had effects on countries around the world. By autumn the Bolshevik program of “peace, land, and bread” had won the party considerable support among the hungry urban workers and the soldiers, who were already deserting from the ranks in large numbers. The Tsar used the anniversary to demonstrate that God appointed him to rule ‘all the Russia’s. Corruption and inefficiency were widespread in the imperial government, and ethnic minorities were eager to escape Russian domination. Russian Revolution, also called Russian Revolution of 1917, two revolutions in 1917, the first of which, in February (March, New Style), overthrew the imperial government and the second of which, in October (November), placed the Bolsheviks in power. The war on the Eastern Front became bogged down in trench warfare. The Tsar refused to enter into peace negotiations with the Central Powers, despite several defeats on the Eastern Front and ordinary people's suffering. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Food supplies became scarce, and poverty spread across Russia. However, this class was impoverished and lived and worked in appalling conditions. A revolutionary wavecaused by the Russian Revolution lasted until 1923… Many factors caused the Russian Revolution. The revolution ultimately led to the establishment of the future Soviet Union as an ideocracy; however, the establishment of such a state came as an ideological paradox, as Marx's ideals of how a socialist state ought to be created were based on the formation being natural and not artificially incited (i.e. The autocratic Tsarist regime was unwilling to change with their society. Many factors caused the Russian Revolution. The autocratic Tsarist regime that was unwilling to change with their society. There were several causes for the outbreak of the Russian Revolution. Its causes were not so much economic or social as political and cultural. The catalyst for the revolution was the First World War. The dates used are those of the Julian Calendar, which was in use in Russia at the time of the Russian Revolution. The industrial workers and the peasants did not benefit from the economic expansion in any way. What caused the October 1917 Russian Revolution? The tsar and other Romanovs were executed by the Bolsheviks after the revolution. Corrections? Shortages of food and fuel were dire: the capital city, since re-named Petrograd, needed 60 railway cars of food a day but often received barely one-third this amount. The Provisional Government was unable to countermand the order. A new industrial class of workers was emerging, and society was becoming increasingly urbanized. The suffering people and the common soldiers grew impatient and demanded immed… Omissions? WWI caused the spark that ignited the revolution. In these soviets, “defeatist” sentiment, favouring Russian withdrawal from the war on almost any terms, was growing. But it was the government’s inefficient prosecution of World War I that finally provided the challenge the old regime could not meet. The way to a Russian revolution had been cleared. [1] The Tsarist government repressed any signs of organized dissent, and as a result, there were many political prisoners. See also: Tsarist Russia 1855 – 1922 Vladimir Lenin 1870 – 1924 In March 1917, the Tsar lost control first of the streets, then of the soldiers, and finally of the Duma, resulting in his forced abdication on 15 March 1917. The Russian Revolution caused the encounter of labors and people. It also fought campaigns against the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires. Then in October, a second Russian Revolution placed the Bolsheviks as the leaders of Russia, resulting in the creation of the world's first communist country. The new government keeps Russia in the war which continues to deplete its resources and people. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Vladimir Lenin during the Russian Revolution, 1917. Riots over the scarcity of food broke out in the capital, Petrograd (formerly St. Petersburg), on February 24 (March 8), and, when most of the Petrograd garrison joined the revolt, Tsar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate March 2 (March 15). The October Revolution saw Vladimir Lenin’s Bolsheviks seize power at the expense of more moderate social democrats (Mensheviks) and conservative “Whites.” Russia’s former allies, who were still fighting in World War I, soon identified the Bolsheviks as a threat equal to that of Germany, and they dispatched troops to Russia. The Russian Empire’s many ethnic minorities grew increasingly restive under Russian domination. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Lavr Georgiyevich Kornilov inspecting Russian troops, 1917. Russia endured hefty casualties, and it placed a great strain on its resources. Updates? On October 24–25 (November 6–7) the Bolsheviks and Left Socialist Revolutionaries staged a nearly bloodless coup, occupying government buildings, telegraph stations, and other strategic points. The Allies could not agree on their aims in Russia, however, and Lenin took advantage of their war-weariness. See also: Tsarist Russia 1855 – 1922 Vladimir Lenin 1870 – 1924 On February 23, 1917, an unseasonably warm day, women at the Vyborg cotton mills in the Russian city of Petrograd (formerly St. Petersburg) marked the … A series of strikes were staged in St. Petersburg, and the Tsar ordered the army to break the strikes. What was the impact of Ivan the Terrible on Russia? The failure of the Tsarist regime to end the war resulted in the collapse of the Romanov Dynasty. Radical groups like the Bolsheviks stated that they wanted to bring an end to the war. The Revolution started during World War I, and eventually the Soviet Union was formed. WWI caused the spark that ignited the revolution. The dates used are those of the Julian Calendar, which was in use in Russia at the time of the Russian Revolution. A Siberian holy man called Rasputin, gained great influence with the Tsar and his family, as he claimed to have the ability to heal the crown prince’s hemophilia. NB. Instead, the army mutinied and began to fraternize with the strikers. A Provisional Government that claimed to represent the workers and the peasants took power. The industrial revolution reached Russia significantly later than the rest of Europe. The tsar’s reactionary policies, including the occasional dissolution of the Duma, or Russian parliament, the chief fruit of the 1905 revolution, had spread dissatisfaction even to moderate elements. They also made themselves very popular by promising food to the people and the redistribution of land. By September the Bolsheviks and their allies, the Left Socialist Revolutionaries, had overtaken the Socialist Revolutionaries and Mensheviks and held majorities in both the Petrograd and Moscow soviets. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The Tsar faced losing power and made significant concessions to secure his position. The Russian Romanov dynasty collapsed in the chaos of the Russian Revolution of 1917. 1. Immediately, those who were unhappy with the existing system began to agitate for change. Aleksandr Kerensky, the prime…. In 1917 Lenin returned to Russia from exile with German help. The next day the world was amazed to hear of the first Communist government in history. Communist parties were formed on a world scale after the Russian Revolution. The Russian Revolution of 1917 involved the collapse of an empire under Tsar Nicholas II and the rise of Marxian socialism under Lenin and his Bolsheviks. By 1917 the bond between the tsar and most of the Russian people had been broken. Russia was changing in the early years of the twentieth century. First, the February Russian Revolution toppled the Russian monarchy and established a Provisional Government. Ill-equipped and poorly led, Russian armies suffered catastrophic losses in campaign after campaign against German armies. This timeline is a chronology of the causes and main events of the 1917 Russian Revolution. A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution: 1891-1924, The Origins of the Russian Revolution, 1861-1917, Passage Through Armageddon: The Russians in War and Revolution, 1914–1918, A history of modern Russia from Nicholas II to Vladimir Putin, https://dailyhistory.org/index.php?title=Why_did_the_Russian_Romanov_Dynasty_collapse_in_1917%3F&oldid=21193. The Policy of Russification: Czar Alexander III was not only a despotic ruler but he also followed the … by means of revolution). Nicholas, his family, and their loyal retainers were detained by the provisional government and were eventually moved to Yekaterinburg. The period after emancipation was the first time the lower classes of Russia had been free to […] However, this did not make the Russian Revolution inevitable. Economic problems grew, made worse by Russia's disastrous involvement in World War One. The Russian Revolution was, while a huge economic, social, and political change, the result of a number of different factors that built up over time, including economic, military, and political circumstances. [4] This managed to appease the revolutionaries, and order and calm were restored. Russia was and is a vast and diverse country with a huge multi-ethnic population. A brief description about this is given below. Czar Nicholas is overthrown March 15, 1917. Workers’ Rights Issues The emancipation of the serfs led to a dramatic increase in population in Russian cities, as people moved away from the countryside to urban areas. In December 1916, a group of aristocrats attempted to ‘save’ the monarchy from Rasputin by murdering him. The October Revolution, also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution, as the official term in the Soviet Union, the Bolshevik Coup, the Bolshevik Revolution, the October Uprising, the October Coup or Red October, was a revolution in Russia led by the Bolshevik Party of Vladimir Lenin that was instrumental in the larger Russian Revolution of 1917–1923. The overwhelming cause of the Russian Revolution of 1917 was the inefficiency and failure of the czarist regime in the World War I military effort. The tsar’s reactionary policies, including the occasional dissolution of the Duma, or Russian parliament, the chief fruit of the 1905 revolution, had spread dissatisfaction even to moderate elements. A committee of the Duma appointed a Provisional Government to succeed the autocracy, but it faced a rival in the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies. The Provisional government wanted to continue with the war, which made it very unpopular with many, especially the Soviets. After the turbulent period following the Russian Revolution of 1917, from 1921 onwards Kiev was an important city of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, and, from 1934, its capital. However, this class was excluded from the political system and resented the Tsar’s restrictions on its political and personal freedoms. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. But while the Provisional Government’s power waned, that of the soviets was increasing, as was the Bolsheviks’ influence within them. However, the leader of the Provisional Government, Alexander Kerensky, refused to compromise. Only the aristocracy and the elite supported the Tsarist government and just out of self-interest. Between March and October the Provisional Government was reorganized four times. Inflation had been so severe through 1916 that the roub… Russian soldiers began deserting, and the army was close to defeat. After two years of fighting, the Bolsheviks emerged victorious. The war made revolution inevitable in two ways: it showed Russia was no longer a military match for the nations of central and western Europe, and it hopelessly disrupted the economy. The Russian Revolution 1917 can be compared to Julius Caesar, because of the overthrowing of the government, people fighting over food shortages, killed most of Russia’s army, suffering in … Their slogan was ‘Peace and Bread.’ The Provisional Government was fast losing control of the situation. In countries like Russia, where Eastern Orthodoxy was the dominant religion, dates were reckoned according to the Julian calendar. One reason was that radical socialists increasingly dominated the soviet movement. by Neroli Leung. This was exacerbated by corruption in the government and a scarcity of food that caused riots to break out first in the capital city of Petrograd and then in other cities. They succeeded in disposing of him but it proved too little, too late. This became known as the October Revolution.[9]. By February 1917, the situation in Russia’s cities had become critical. From the time of Peter I (Peter the Great), the czardom increasingly became an autocratic bureaucracy that imposed its will on the people by force, with wanton disregard for Governmental corruption and inefficiency were rampant. [5] The economy improved after 1905, and the Tsar began to win back some support. After taking over, the Bolsheviks promised 'peace, land, and bread' to the Russian people. When Cossacks violently broke up a demonstration in St Petersburg, with many deaths, the country saw widespread revolts. The Russian Revolution of 1917 had people that would cause riots during the war. In the early 20th century, the difference between these two calendars was 13 days, so the Julian (also called Old Style) dates October 24–25 correspond to the Gregorian dates November 6–7. The causes of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and indicate its significance in world History ; Essay: The origin of the Russian revolution can be traced back to the dawn of the year 1917 ; Write a short note on Stalin’s Collectivisation Programme. The Russian Revolution of 1917 was one of the most significant events in the 20th century. It completely changed the government and outlook on life in the very large country of Russia. 1, which directed the military to obey only the orders of the Soviet and not those of the Provisional Government. All that now prevented the Petrograd Soviet from openly declaring itself the real government of Russia was fear of provoking a conservative coup. It was rapidly industrializing, and the country’s economy was growing fast.[2]. Start studying Russian Revolution 1917 - Causes. Although there were a large number of events that culminated in the October 1917 Revolution, I have chosen to focus solely on those within the 20th century. The new government keeps Russia in the war which continues to deplete its resources and people. The Regime's repressive policies and scandals further undermined its legitimacy. Kerensky became head of the Provisional Government in July and put down a coup attempted by army commander in chief Lavr Georgiyevich Kornilov (according to some historians, Kerensky may have initially plotted with Kornilov in the hope of gaining control over the Petrograd Soviet). Bloody Sunday in 1905 and the Russian defeat in the Russo-Japanese War both helped lead to the 1917 revolution. There had already been too many nights of madness in 1917 as the Russian Revolution rocked Petrograd (renamed from St. Petersburg at the onset of World War I … 16. However, only after a brutal civil war resulted in millions of deaths that the Communist were able to take full control of Russia. 5 Causes of the Russian Revolution! Russia invaded Prussia in 1914, but after some initial success, was defeated. The Tsar promised reforms, including land reform, and vowed to respect the constitution. The Russian Revolution of 1917 popularly known as the Bolshevik Revolution is one of the most significant events in the history of the world and ranks in importance in the category of the French Revolution. Politically, the people of Russia resented the autocracy of Tsar Nicholas II and the corrupt and anachronistic elements in his government. The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The period after emancipation was the first time the lower classes of Russia had been free to […] By the 18th century, most countries in Europe had adopted the Gregorian calendar. On March 1 (March 14) the Soviet issued its famous Order No. While the turning point for the revolution is widely accepted as World War I, but the revolution was not an inevitable byproduct of war and there are long-term causes that are equally important to recognize. The Regime's repressive policies and scandals further undermined its legitimacy. It accentuated the tensions in Russian society and unleashed forces that the Romanov regime could not control. When his brother, Grand Duke Michael, refused the throne, more than 300 years of rule by the Romanov dynasty came to an end. In three years of war Russia had mobilized roughly 10 percent of its entire population…, One of the turning points in the struggle for power was the attempt by Gen. Lavr Kornilov, who had been appointed commander in chief, to take control of Petrograd in August 1917 and wipe out the soviet. In fact some of the Marxian scholars would like to rank the Russian Revolution even higher than the French Revolution. In 1913 there were lavish public celebrations of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty’s rule in Russia. Autocratic Rule of the Czars: Czar Alexander II brought some reforms in Russia and became famous among all. The first government was composed entirely of liberal ministers, with the exception of the Socialist Revolutionary Aleksandr F. Kerensky. The Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets, which convened in Petrograd simultaneously with the coup, approved the formation of a new government composed mainly of Bolshevik commissars. The subsequent governments were coalitions. … However, following the Tsarist government's collapse, many local committees are known as Soviets and took power all over Russia. Workers and soldiers spontaneously revolt, demanding the Soviets or the Bolsheviks take power. The event became known as the October Revolution. [6] That year, the Tsar and his family were very popular, and it seemed to the revolutionaries that there would never be a revolution. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/event/Russian-Revolution, Alpha History - Russian Revolution timeline 1917, The YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe - Russian Revolutions of 1917, Russian Revolution - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Russian Revolution - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies. This brought him ‘immense power and prestige at Court,’ but it scandalized many. Socially, Tsarist Russia stood well behin… The Soviet soon proved that it had greater authority than the Provisional Government, which sought to continue Russia’s participation in the European war. 17. The causes of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and indicate its significance in world History ; Essay: The origin of the Russian revolution can be traced back to the dawn of the year 1917 ; Write a short note on Stalin’s Collectivisation Programme. It accentuated the tensions in Russian society and unleashed forces that Romanov regime could not control. This timeline is a chronology of the causes and main events of the 1917 Russian Revolution. Leon Trotsky said that the goal of socialism in Russia would not be realized without the success of the world revolution. The 2,500 delegates to this soviet were chosen from factories and military units in and around Petrograd. Essentially, the lives of most Russians became intolerable. But this doesn't solve all of Russia's problems. At the First All-Russian Congress of Soviets, convened on June 3 (June 16), the Socialist Revolutionaries were the largest single bloc, followed by the Mensheviks and Bolsheviks. On July 17, 1918, when White army forces approached the area, the tsar and his entire family were slaughtered to prevent their rescue. None of them, however, was able to cope adequately with the major problems afflicting the country: peasant land seizures, nationalist independence movements in non-Russian areas, and the collapse of army morale at the front. [8] The authority of the Tsar ebbed away, and he was forced to abdicate. The Russian Revolution of 1917 covers the major events such as the February Revolution and the October Revolution that result in the established of the Soviet Union. Although a previous coup attempt (the July Days) had failed, the time now seemed ripe. However, this did not make the Russian Revolution inevitable. They often refused to recognize the authority of the Provisional Government. Kerensky’s attempt to organize resistance proved futile, and he fled the country. The causes of these two revolutions encompass Russia’s political, social, and economic situation. However, he was increasingly unable to halt Russia’s slide into political, economic, and military chaos, and his party suffered a major split as the left wing broke from the Socialist Revolutionary Party. Russia was allied with France and Britain against Germany, Austro-Hungary, and Turkey. The first revolution transferred the power of the Tsar to Duma. The majority of the population were still peasants that often worked the land for wealthy landlords and endured lives of great hardship. However, the Russian Revolution was not unavoidable and directly resulted from the impact of the First World War on Russia. The revolution was the culmination of a long period of repression and unrest. Reasons for the February Revolution, 1917 Tsar Nicholas II was a poor leader. The Russian Revolution 1917 can be compared to Julius Caesar, because of the overthrowing of the government, people fighting over food shortages, killed most of Russia’s army, suffering in … The industrial revolution reached Russia significantly later than the rest of Europe. He granted a constitution and allowed for the creation of an elected Duma. The three major causes of the Russian Revolution were Russia’s participation in World War I, an unstable government and Vladimir Lenin. [7] By 1917, the Russian people were war-weary, and strikes became very common. Workers’ Rights Issues The emancipation of the serfs led to a dramatic increase in population in Russian cities, as people moved away from the countryside to urban areas. This page was last edited on 19 November 2020, at 00:05. Short-Term Causes of the end of Tsarism (March 1917) Petrograd workers protest food shortages and criticize the Tsarist regime, March 8-10 Petrograd was on of the main cities of the empire The Russian government was very tenuous- whether it would survive at all was point of debate in the years preceding World War One The… On March 13, 1881, one of the most reformist Russian tsars since the time of Peter the Great (1672-1725) fell victim to assassination by revolutionaries from the Narodnaya Volya. However, by 1917, the citizens did not see significant change/improvement in their lives, and once again grew dissatisfied. On the night of October, they seized the Winter Palace and ousted the Provisional Government.