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Essay: THE OCTOBER REVOLUTION

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INTRODUCTION The October Revolution, officially known as the Great October Socialist Revolution and commonly referred to as Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a seizure of state power instrumental in the larger Russian Revolution of 1917. It took place with an armed insurrection in Petrograd traditionally dated to 25 October 1917 (by the Julian or Old Style calendar, which corresponds to 7 November 1917 in the Gregorian or New Style calendar). The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917 was initiated by millions of people who would change the history of the world. When Czar Nicholas II dragged 11 million peasants into World War I, the Russian people became discouraged with their injuries and the loss of life they sustained. The country of Russia was in ruins, ripe for revolution. The revolution was led by the Bolsheviks, who used their influence in the Petrograd Soviet to organize the armed forces. Bolshevik Red Guards forces under the Military Revolutionary Committee began the takeover of government buildings on 24 October 1917 (O.S.). The following day, the Winter Palace (the seat of the Provisional government located in Petrograd, then capital of Russia), was captured. The long-awaited Constituent Assembly elections were held on 12 November 1917. The Bolsheviks only won 175 seats in the 715 seat legislative body, coming in second behind the Socialist party, which won 370 seats. The Constituent Assembly was to first meet on 28 November 1917, but its convocation was delayed until January 5, 1918 by the Bolsheviks. On its first and only day in session, the body rejected Soviet decrees on peace and land, and was dissolved the next day by order of the Congress of Soviets. As the revolution was not universally recognized, there followed the struggles of the Russian Civil War (1917’22) and the creation of the Soviet Union in 192 EVENTS LEADING TO OCTOBER REVOLUTION THE BOLSHEVIKS The Bolsheviks were a revolutionary party, which was the idea of Karl Marx. They believed that the working classes would, at some point, liberate themselves from the economic and political control of the ruling classes. Once they had achieved this, a genuine socialist society based on equality could be established. According to there view, this process was bound to take place, sooner or later. The Bolsheviks was formed and was led by the Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov – known as Lenin. Pitiless and single-minded, Lenin decided that the conditions in Russia in 1917 were ripe for revolution. At the beginning of 1917, however, the Bolsheviks were still a minority organisation within Russia. Most of their leaders, including Lenin, were in exile in Switzerland and the chances of the Bolsheviks ever attaining power in Russia seemed pretty remote. At the time of the February Revolution, which overthrew the Tsar, the Bolsheviks were still relatively weak. Yet, by the end of the year, the Bolsheviks were the government of Russia. Clearly, important developments had taken place in the intervening months. The Bolsheviks were given a strong boost by a number of factors: THE PROVISIONAL As the name implied, the Provisional Government was meant to be a temporary affair. Following the fall of the Tsar, Russia needed a government to run things until proper elections could be held. These elections were delayed. At the same time, the Provisional Government took major decisions, such as remaining in World War I and postponing land reforms, which greatly affected the Russian people. This made the Provisional Government increasingly unpopular and allowed Lenin to attack it for these reasons, and for the fact that it had never been elected to power. ECONOMIC PROBLEMS Economic difficulties had played a major role in Nicholas II’s fall from power. The Provisional Government had very limited success in dealing with these problems. Prices went on rising, food was in short supply and the peasants’ desire for control of more land was not met. Inevitably, the continuing economic crisis discredited the Provisional Government, and strengthened the appeal of the Bolsheviks. THE WAR The Russian people wanted the war to come to an end. The country was exhausted and the people had had enough. Incredibly, the Provisional Government could not see this. They persisted in trying to continue with the military campaigns. A final, unsuccessful offensive against the Germans was attempted in June 1917 with the remaining loyal troops. The collapse of the army’s morale continued, with desertion being encouraged by the Bolshe. BOLSHEVIK POLICIES As Bolshevik leader, Lenin had very clear objectives for what he wanted to achieve. First of all, the Bolsheviks had to gain control of the Petrograd Soviet. Then they would seize power in the name of the Soviet. This process would be repeated in other cities. It was due to Lenin’s energy and drive that the Bolsheviks agreed on this course of action. The first step was to increase Bolshevik support within the Soviets. Lenin developed Bolshevik policies in line with this aim in mind. The slogan “peace, bread and land” summarised Bolshevik policies at this time. PEACE Lenin could see that the Russian people wanted an end to the war. The Bolsheviks were offering what they wanted. BREAD Lenin claimed that the Bolsheviks could solve the food shortages – the Provisional Government had made them worse. LAND This was a shrewd move by Lenin. The Bolsheviks were a party of the cities and the industrial areas and they had very little support among the peasants. However, with the peasants being the vast majority of the population, Lenin could not risk them turning against the Bolsheviks. By offering them land, Lenin ensured that the peasants stayed neutral when the Bolsheviks made their bid for power. Lenin was actively supported by Leon Trotsky. Trotsky had superb skills of organisation and improvisation. He created the Red Guards, a Bolshevik militia formed from armed factory workers, soldiers and sailors. Trotsky took charge of the detailed planning of the actual Bolshevik takeover at the end of October, to make sure that all the vital areas of Petrograd were effectively in Bolshevik hands. t in here…

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october revolution essay questions

World History teaching resources for the high school classroom: lesson plans, worksheets, quizzes and simulation games for KS3, IGCSE, IB and A-Level teachers.

This unit, based around an extended decision-making exercise , helps students investigate the causes of the bolshevik revolution of october 1917. by so doing they will determine whether it was a popular uprising, or a coup d'etat. they will also decide how important lenin personally was in precipitating this central 20th century event..

Study Guide This document establishes the importance of the topic both at the time and today.

roleplay

At the appropriate point in the timeline, or as a starter video clip to the next lesson, students could watch this as further information about he decision of the German Kaiser to fund Lenin's return to Russia via Switzerland in a sealed train.

Primary / Secondary Source Material As the next phase of the investigation, students read through a series of selected primary and secondary accounts of the events of October 1917 and decide where each can be used, and which quotes are best to include. They should also be encouraged to reflect on the values and limitations of each of these sources.

Mind Unit Review: Key Questions to Consider A simple PowerPoint presentation asking students to reflect on whether they think that Lenin was the 'engine driver' or a 'passenger' of the revolution, and whether this was a coup d'etat or a popular uprising.

Homework Task: Extra notes from video / audio sources Rather than use video and audio files within the lessons, I prefer to allocate different sources to different students. Their key objective is to make notes on any fresh points of information that they did not know beforehand. Then, back in class, students are placed into small groups in which each member has used a different audio-visual source. They then share their findings with each other to develop their notes appropriately.

Factual Test: February to October (there is also a teacher answer sheet available). This factual test is provided in the form of a 'gap fill' narrative. In this way, after it is marked it forms a useful revision aid in itself.

Classroom Debate: Popular Uprising, or Coup D'Etat? (completed teacher version also available) The format of this debate and the worksheet provided to students is laid out in such a way that it also helps students decide whether methods or conditions were the most important, which is another popular format of question. Students formulate questions against opponents, then debate them in pairs in front of the class. The next pair provides a synthesis conclusion to this mini-debate before moving on to have their own debate. In this way, students can quickly build up a databank of essential arguments and substantiating evidence ready for the essay-writing phase.

How important was the role of Lenin? ( PowerPoint images also available) The debate above is largely framed in terms of the respective contributions of the Provisional Government and the Bolsheviks in precipitating the revolution. This exercise goes further by getting students to consider whether the role of Lenin within the Bolshevik party was crucial. Students do this by researching and considering the importance of Zinoviev, Kamenev, Stalin and Trotsky. In this way they can reach a conclusion about whether Lenin was indeed the 'engine driver' of the revolution or merely a 'passenger' in the process. There is also a useful video clip covering the role of Stalin in particular that can be used here:

Historiography and Essay Writing (there is also a teacher feedback presentation available, as well as a sample timed essay by RJ Tarr ) Three broad schools of historiography are considered and students are asked which of the three most closely matches their own views. They are then provided with three essay questions. Homework is to prepare a plan for each one of them; in a subsequent lesson one of these titles is chosen at random and the class writes an essay in timed examination conditions.

Keyword Checker: How important was Lenin in the October Revolution? This simple tool allows you (and students) to quickly check how many keywords are used in the essays written by students (if this is the question they attempt).

Google Hangout with Professor Orlando Figes

In June 2014, the world-renowned historian Professor Orlando Figes generously agreed to participate in a live video link-up experiment with IB Historians at the International School of Toulouse to answer questions about the Russian Revolutions of 1917. Over the course of 45 minutes he answered a wide range of questions that the class had formulated in advance following an in-depth study of Russian history c.1894-1917.

This initiative followed an email discussion I had with Professor Figes about the best way of enabling professional historians to share their enthusiasm and expertise with students in schools who are about to apply to university.

We used Google Hangouts to conduct the Q&A session. As a first attempt the experience was enjoyed by all concerned, although there are aspects which we will improve the next time we host a similar event (e.g. ensuring a strong and stable internet connection, and having the camera focused on the whole class rather than individual questioners to create more of a 'seminar' feel).

The link to the full video can be found here .

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ESSAY PLANS

Here are some examples of plans that can be used when writing an essay on the subject of Communism in Russia:

Question 1 - Evaluate the causes of Bolshevik success in the October 1917 Revolution 

Question 2 - What part did Lenin play in the establishment of the Soviet Union?

Question 3 - To what extent was Trotsky responsible for the victory of the Red Army in the Civil War? 

Question 4 - To what extent were economic problems the main reason for the collapse of Soviet power in Eastern Europe? 

Question 5 - What was the attitude of the Soviet Union to German expansion after 1935?

Question 6 - Russia under Lenin was not too dissimilar to Russia under the Tsars. Discuss

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Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective

The October Revolution in Russia

  • David L. Hoffmann

One hundred years ago, in wartime Petrograd, Russian radicals known as the Bolsheviks carried out “ the Great October Socialist Revolution .” On the night of October 24, 1917, Bolshevik Red Guards began to take control of key points in the Russian capital—railway stations, telegraph offices, and government buildings. By the following evening, they controlled the entire city with the exception of the Winter Palace, the seat of the Provisional Government.

Vladimir Lenin addressing a crowd in Moscow

Vladimir Lenin giving a speech in Moscow.

This government had ruled Russia since Tsar Nicholas II’s abdication the preceding February, but it had lost almost all support as Russia’s horrific World War I casualties continued to mount. In fact, at this crucial moment Provisional Government ministers could find almost no one willing to defend them. That night, Bolshevik Red Guards broke into the palace and arrested the ministers, bringing the Provisional Government to an end.

Former Tsar Nicholas II in Tsarskoye Selo following his abdication in March 1917, (left) and Bolshevik forces marching on Red Square, 1917 (right).

Former Tsar Nicholas II in Tsarskoye Selo following his abdication in March 1917, ( left ) and Bolshevik forces marching on Red Square, 1917 ( right ).

The “storming of the Winter Palace” has gone down in history as the climactic moment of the October Revolution. But overthrowing the existing government turned out to be the easy part. Over the next three years, the Bolsheviks (soon renamed Communists) would have to win power in a bloody civil war and reestablish order in a country that had descended into anarchy.

For both opponents and supporters, the October Revolution represented the advent of socialism. Those on the political right saw socialism as scourge that entailed the violent expropriation of private property and the trampling of individual liberties. And throughout the twentieth century, Soviet socialism continued to be seen as an existential threat to liberal democracy and capitalism.

But many on the left welcomed the Revolution as the start of a new era, with harmony and equality for all people. Particularly given the senseless slaughter of millions of soldiers during the First World War, the October Revolution seemed to offer an alternative—a government ruled in the interests of the common people that would ultimately produce a communist utopia.

Sacrifice to the International, an anti-Bolshevik propaganda poster, in which Lenin is depicted in a red robe, aiding other Bolsheviks in sacrificing Russia to a statue of Marx, 1919 (left), and Glory to victorious Red Army soldier!, by Dmitrii Stakhievich Moor, 1920 (right). (New York Public Library Digital Collections)

"Sacrifice to the International," an anti-Bolshevik propaganda poster, in which Lenin is depicted in a red robe, aiding other Bolsheviks in sacrificing Russia to a statue of Marx, 1919 ( left ), and "Glory to victorious Red Army soldier!" by Dmitrii Stakhievich Moor, 1920 ( right ). (New York Public Library Digital Collections)

One hundred years later, the October Revolution still stands as a seminal event in world history. But no longer can it be seen in Marxist terms as part of the inevitable progression from feudalism to capitalism to socialism to communism. Instead, the Revolution today is often viewed as a cautionary tale about the dangers of socialist ideology.

Russian Civil War era poster by Alexander Apsit reading 'To Horse, Proletarian!,' 1918.

Russian Civil War era poster by Alexander Apsit reading "To Horse, Proletarian!," 1918.

According to this thinking, the socialist ideas pursued by Communist Party leaders led to the crimes of Stalinism , which produced neither equality nor harmony but left millions of people dead. With the collapse of the Communist regime in 1991, the anniversary of the October Revolution is no longer celebrated in Russia. Many people regard the entire Soviet epoch as a tragedy, the result of socialist thought put into practice.

Soviet poster depicting Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin, 1933

Soviet poster depicting Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin, 1933.

Was the Soviet regime really a product of socialist ideology? In some ways it was. Vladimir Lenin and other Communist Party leaders were committed to Marxism, one branch of socialism, and they understood the world in terms of class categories. Their policies included violent expropriation of private property and class warfare.

But Marxist thought provided no blueprint for constructing a socialist state. Most of Karl Marx’s writings had been a critique of capitalism, and he described the socialist future only in vague terms. Nowhere did he outline what became the fundamental institutions of the Soviet state—a fully state-run, planned economy; government bureaucracies for censorship and propaganda; the secret police and its system of surveillance; and the network of forced labor camps known as the Gulag. These institutions were instead based upon wartime practices of the First World War and Russian Civil War.

Red Army soldiers before being sent to the Civil War, 1919

Red Army soldiers before being sent to the Civil War, 1919.

Combatant countries throughout Europe during the First World War had increased state control over their economies, through price controls, rationing, production quotas, and grain requisitioning. They had utilized censorship and propaganda to maintain soldiers’ and citizens’ morale. The governments of all combatant countries also had engaged in widespread surveillance of their citizens. And in addition, they had created concentration camps to intern “enemy aliens” and, in some cases, their own subjects during the war.

After the October Revolution, Communist leaders used all of these methods to fight the Civil War and establish control over the far-flung Russian empire. Unlike in other countries, where governments stepped back from total war practices after the war ended, the Soviet state was formed in conditions of anarchy and civil war, and these practices became institutionalized as permanent features of governance.

Refugees fleeing the Civil War (left), and prisoners working at Belbaltlag, a camp for building the White Sea-Baltic Sea Canal (from the 1932 documentary film Baltic to White Sea Water Way, Central Russian Film and Photo Archive) (right).

Refugees fleeing the Civil War ( left ), and prisoners working at Belbaltlag, a camp for building the White Sea-Baltic Sea Canal (from the 1932 documentary film Baltic to White Sea Water Way , Central Russian Film and Photo Archive) ( right ).

The October Revolution, then, produced a highly militarized version of socialism, one in which state control and violence became fundamental components. While Marxist ideas and categories shaped Communist policies, the Soviet state cannot be divorced from the historical conjuncture in which it arose—a moment of total war.

In the 1930s, Soviet state violence became even more pervasive, as Joseph Stalin sought to prepare the Soviet Union for the next war. Wartime practices such as grain requisitions and deportations were used to collectivize agriculture. The Soviet planned economy, essentially a wartime economy, marshaled labor and raw materials for enormous industrial projects that modernized the country. During the Second World War , the Stalinist leadership relied on these same institutions of state violence and control to mobilize vast human and material resources for the war effort.

Both Stalinist industrialization and victory over Nazi Germany, however, were obtained at tremendous cost. During the 1930s, several million Soviet citizens died due to famines, deportations, and executions. An estimated 27 million more died during the Second World War. Even after the war, the Stalinist government continued large-scale deportations and incarcerations of its own citizens.

Children dig up potatoes on a collective farm near Udachne villiage, Donec'k oblast, 1933 (left), and collective farmers from the Moscow suburbs handing over tanks manufactured on their money to Soviet servicemen, December 1942 (right).

USSR Day of the October Revolution, 1938.

'Everything for the Front. Everything for Victory' reads a USSR propaganda poster from World War II, 1941 (left); and 'Stalin’s spirit makes our army and country strong and solid,' Viktor Deni and Nikolai Dolgorukov, 1939 (right).

"Everything for the Front. Everything for Victory." USSR propaganda poster from World War II, 1941 ( left ); and ‘"Stalin’s spirit makes our army and country strong and solid," Viktor Deni & Nikolai Dolgorukov, 1939 ( right ).

In the end, the Soviet state’s legacy of coercion and bloodshed proved to be its undoing. When Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev lifted censorship in the 1980s, discussion of the system’s violent past quickly undercut its legitimacy. By 1991, Communist rule had ended and the Soviet Union disintegrated.

The October Revolution shaped the twentieth-century world arguably more than any other single event. It brought to power a new regime, one that ruled in the name of the working class and that established a non-capitalist, state-run economy. This regime carried out a brutal industrialization drive that enabled the Soviet Union to play the leading role in defeating Nazi Germany and winning World War II. And the existence of the Soviet Union also led to the Cold War , the superpower confrontation with the United States that dominated world affairs for the entire postwar era.

Parade on Moscow's Red Square celebrating the 67th anniversary of the October Revolution, November 7, 1984.

The October Revolution did not, however, mark a new stage in history or humankind’s inevitable progression toward a communist utopia. And the Soviet system that resulted from it, while socialist in some respects, was characterized by institutions of government control and state violence. A century after the October Revolution, we can see that above all else the Soviet state reflected the era of mass warfare in which it arose.

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What was the October Revolution of 1917?

The October Revolution was the second and the last major part of the Russian Revolution of 1917. It is also known as the Bolshevik Revolution. This Military Revolution Committee was led by Trotsky and they were able to garner the support of Petrograd Garrison and Kronstadt sailors. The Prime Minister ordered the arrest of Bolshevik leaders in October, this led to an armed uprising in Petrograd on 25th October 1917. The revolution was led by the Bolsheviks who occupied the government buildings on 25th October. The following day Winter Palace was captured. It was the seat of the Provisional Government which was established after overthrowing Tsars. Bolsheviks later went on to become the Communist Party of Soviet Union. The new Government was led by Vladimir Lenin.

What was the purpose of the October Revolution?

The reasons behind the October Revolution are given below.

  • Russia was one of the most impoverished countries in Europe. 
  • Huge population landless agricultural labourers
  • Rise in the number of poor and exploited industrial workers.
  • Communists wanted to create an Industrialized Soviet Union and usher in economic and social development.

Aspirants would find this topic very helpful in the IAS Exam .

What is the February Revolution?

The February Revolution began on February 23, 1917. This was the first of the two revolutions which took place in 1917. Russia was suffering from massive social and economic problems after World War I. The mass protest took place in the streets of Petrograd as the common people did not have access to sufficient food. The revolution took place for a span of 8 days which involved mass demonstrations and violent clashes with the police and the loyal forces of Russian Monarch. Even Russian Armed Forces took the side of protesters. The protest led to the death of thousands of people. All these led to the resignation of Tsar Nicholas II bringing an end to the Russian Empire. After the February Revolution, a provisional government was formed.

What is the March Revolution?

The first Russian revolution of 1917 which led to the overthrow of the Tsar Rule in Russia is called the March Revolution and it began on 8th March 1917. Russia uses the Julian calendar and as per this calendar the first revolution of 1917 began on 8th February. Hence it is also known as the February Revolution.

The above details would help candidates prepare for UPSC 2024 .

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Select and Explain the Most Important Reasons For the October Revolution in 1917.

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                 Select and Explain the Most Important Reasons

For the October Revolution in 1917

The Russian revolution of October 1917 was when the Bolsheviks overthrew the Provisional government and seized power. They took control of Russia and began to set up a communist dictatorship. Some of the most important causes of this revolution were, The weakness of the Provisional government, the March revolution, the first world war, Lenin’s determination and use of propaganda and also the fact that the Bolsheviks had the support of the soviets.

In March 1917 there was a huge revolution. The workers went on strike, the army mutinied and Petrograd was in the hands of rioting mobs. The Tsar, Nicholas, had completely lost control of his country. He was forced to abdicate and passed the throne to a relative but the people of Russia refused to accept a monarchy and so on March 14 th  the Provisional government was set up. The Provisional Government was opposed right away by the soviets, or councils of workers and peasants, who wanted the right to make their own decisions. The March revolution paved the way for the October revolution. The people of Russia now knew they could have some say in what happened to Russia. If the March revolution had never occurred then the Tsar would never have abdicated and the Provisional government wouldn’t have been set up for the Bolsheviks to overthrow. It was a vital event in the lead up to the October revolution.

The weakness of the provisional government was another major cause of the October revolution. It was the first proper government Russia had ever had so they were bound to make mistakes but that didn’t mean they could get away with it. The first major mistake they made was choosing to continue fighting the First World War even though Russia had inadequate supplies for this decision. Also the peasants were asking for more land to be able to support themselves and the provisional government had no idea how to deal with this so they ignored it and refused the peasants demands, yet another major mistake. They did try to introduce rationing to improve chances of making their supplies last however they were unable to transport the supplies they had around Russia quickly enough so they’re idea failed. The Provisional government was faced with insurmountable problems, and had little chance of surviving all along although perhaps if they’d listened to the interests of the Russian people they would’ve been better off and the people would have supported them instead of the Bolsheviks who promised them what they wanted. In July of 1917 the workers challenged the Provisional Government and ended up defeated, with their leader jailed and Lenin going into hiding. At the point when everything looked very bad for the Bolsheviks, two very good things happened. First, the Provisional Government ordered a big war offensive that ended up in ruin, with thousands being either killed or injured. Late in August, the soldiers of the Provisional Government began to fall away from their support of the Provisional Government and began to support the workers. They were becoming closer and closer to being Bolsheviks themselves.   Secondly, in September, during the Kornilov affair, a pro-czar section of the military threatened Petrograd, which was the city occupied by the Bolsheviks and the Provisional Government. The Bolsheviks had established themselves as the only party which stood in opposition to continuing the war effort. The Bolshevik workers had to unite and fight as one against the military. Now that the Bolsheviks had the support of the workers, they were able to win the important elections in early September in important Russian industrial centers. By the middle of September, the Bolsheviks had formally acquired a majority in the St. Petersburg Soviet.

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The First World War was a huge problem for Russia. The Provisional Government chose not to withdraw from the First World War even though they didn’t have the means to keep fighting. The provisional government was very weak and failed to live up to its promise of ending Russia's involvement in the war. They kept Russia in the war and just made things worse for themselves and for Russia. They didn’t want to face the harsh treaty they knew Germany would give them if they surrendered. By making this decision the Provisional government lost a lot of support the soldiers were beginning to desert and they were fast running out of supplies. Lack of food meant peasants faced famine and disease. People turned to Lenin and the Bolsheviks who were promising to give them what they want if gained power. Everyone wanted a revolution as they were fed up with the way their country was being run.

If it hadn’t have been for Lenin’s determination and Bolshevik propaganda perhaps the revolution might never have taken place. Lenin already had the support of the soviets after the Kornilov affair and he gained even more support by using slogans like “Peace, Bread, Land!” which was offering the peasants what they wanted and “All power to the soviets!” offering the workers what they wanted, control.  The Bolsheviks used the war against the provisional government, they were totally against the war and made sure the people knew it, they blamed the provisional government for the fact that they were still fighting the war and the Russian people rallied behind them. He gained a lot of support from the soldiers using these tactics and propaganda just making it easier for him to overthrow the government. Lenin also exploited the Kornilov affair showing up the Provisional government as disorganised and underlining their weaknesses. In April Lenin introduced his April Thesis putting forward his ideas about Communism. This won him even more support from the workers, as his ideas would benefit them especially. He know had the support of the army and control of the workers in the capital, Petrograd. The revolution was set up and ready to happen.

By exploiting the government’s mistakes Lenin and the Bolsheviks achieved popularity with the Petrograd soviet and increasingly powerful authority over the Soviet’s Military revolutionary Committee allowing the Bolsheviks to carry out the revolution easily with the help of the soviets.  With power in the main cities Lenin couldn’t really go wrong and on October the 20 th  he overthrew the provisional government and seized power. He intended to set up a socialist society in Russia. It was the first communist government set up in the world.  

All these reasons and more were causes of the October revolution in 1917. The weakness of the Provisional government, the March revolution, the first world war, Lenin’s determination and use of propaganda and the fact that the Bolsheviks had the support of the soviets all led to Lenin taking over Russia. In my opinion there is no one reason that made the revolution happen above any other although it could be argued for any of them. If I had to choose a most important reason it would be the fact that Lenin had the support of the soviets. Without the power in the cities and support from the army and the public he would’ve had nothing to back up his ideas and plans. However the fact that he had the support of the soviets was contributed to by many other reasons. Propaganda used by the Bolsheviks encouraged support from the soviets and the peasants. The weakness of the Provisional government led to them having a lack of support and therefore a lack of power to rebuff the Bolshevik advances. The provisional government made too many mistakes and the Russian people had had enough. They wanted what they wanted and now. The Provisional government’s decision to continue the war also led to the Bolsheviks receiving more support for their more peaceful, anti-war approach. All these problems contributing and linking to one another led to the October revolution. If all these things hadn’t happened at the same time perhaps the revolution might never have taken place. All these factors put together were too much and Russia needed a change. The situation as it was and the events of the time ensured the October Revolution of 1917.

Laura Price

Select and Explain the Most Important Reasons For the October Revolution in 1917.

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86 Russian Revolution Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best russian revolution topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 interesting topics to write about russian revolution, 🔎 good research topics about russian revolution, ❓ russian revolution essay questions.

  • History of Russian Revolution in 1917 Subsequent to the resignation of Romanovs, the provisional government was created by members of the parliament that was recognized as a legal government of Russia.
  • The Russian Revolution 1917: Causes and Outcomes The Russian Revolution refers to one of the most significant historical events in the world history. This event covered two revolutions rooted in Russia: the February Revolution and the October Revolution of 1917. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
  • The Russian Revolution by Sheila Fitzpatrick The author of this book defines the following frames: “The timespan of the Russian Revolution runs from February 1917 to the Great Purge of 1937-8. The first theme is the Bolsheviks’ vision of the revolution […]
  • French and Russian Revolutions In fact, what later came to be known as “Russia’s Great October Socialist Revolution”, was more of a political coup the members of Russia’s Provisionary Government, which was formed after Czar’s abdication in 1916, we […]
  • Karl Marx Theory and the Russian Revolution It was the interpretations of Marxism theories by Lenin that were the force behind the Russian Revolution and the formation of the Soviet Union.
  • Russian Revolution: What Went Down? This revolution, therefore, overturned the Provisional Government and established the Soviet Union. While the February revolution overturned Tsar Nicholas II and established a Provisional Government.
  • Changes Brought by Russian Revolution Today Russia is one of the superpowers in the world with a strong economy. The Bolsheviks took power after the Russian Revolution of 1917 and deposed the imperial government.
  • The History of Russian Revolution Bolsheviks constituted the largest radical group in revolutionary Russia that played the most important role in the initiation and the course of the revolution.
  • The Effects of 1917 Russian Revolution on the 20th Century Music The young composer made his way to the countryside in 1908 in order to earn the would-be title of the folk music examiner.
  • The French and Russian Revolutions of 1789 and 1917 On the other hand, 1989 marked the end of the Russian Revolution which was responsible for the creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
  • Russian Revolutions Since 1905: Background and Consequences In 1905, when the Imperial forces of Russia were under the affliction of mortifying and degrading vanquishes, the famous revolution of that year broke out.
  • Russian Revolution in “Cement” by Gladkov The novel demonstrates that one of the true insights of Communism is its understanding of the manner in which all human institutions and activities become perverted to the selfish use of particular groups.
  • Russian Revolution and International Reaction The principal causes of the failure of the Allied Powers to help the White Army included the disagreement in goals and the general weakness of the Western involvement forces after World War I.
  • Russian Revolutions, Fascism, and Totalitarianism It was also seeking to apply socialist principles in the political experience in the birth of the Soviet Union and apply it to the worldwide revolution. It was ultimately this aspect that led to the […]
  • Causes of the 1917 Russian Revolution It was caused by three factors: the incapacity of the Tsarist economy to deal with modern industrial war, the organization of the mass army drawn from the peasantry and working class, and a growing hatred […]
  • Bolshevik Propaganda in the Russian Revolution Communists hoped to achieve, and that was why they had more and more concentrated their propaganda efforts on the boys and girls and the young men and women.
  • Russian Revolution in Orwell’s “Animal Farm” Both the long-term and the short-term causes of the revolution contributed to the public outrage and diminished the people’s belief in the monarchy.
  • The First World War and the Russian Revolution Scholars argue that Russia’s involvement in the First World War and the economic consequences are the primary causes of the revolution.
  • Mexican and Russian Revolution: Comparative Analysis Additionally, the top-down method involved spreading the benefits of the revolution from the government offices to the community and to the village to help the masses.
  • The Down Fall of the Russian Revolution The powerful individuals, whose aim was to fulfil the interests of the owners of the means production, controlled the revolution. After the revolution, the Communist Party readjusted its objectives to reflect the aims of the […]
  • Russian Revolution of 1905 and the Fall of the Tsarist Regime
  • The Failure and Success of the Russian Revolution
  • The Events and Steps Towards the Russian Revolution
  • Marxist Tenets That Influenced the Russian Revolution
  • Ending the Russian Revolution: Reflections on Soviet History and Its Interpreters
  • The Russian Revolution and the New Soviet State 1917-1929
  • Has the Russian Revolution of 1991 Been a Success
  • Bolshevism and Its Effect on the Russian Revolution
  • Russian Revolution: The Lowest Point in the Country’s History
  • Compare and Contrast French and Russian Revolution
  • Domestic and Global Causes of the Russian Revolution
  • Russian Revolution and the Creation of the Communist Party
  • Lenin and His Coming of Power After the Russian Revolution
  • Development Economics and the Russian Revolution: The Soviet Industrialisation Debate
  • Czar Peter and His Impact on the Russian Revolution
  • How and Why Did the Russian Revolution of 1917
  • 1917 Russian Revolution and Its Success
  • Russian Revolution and the Influence of Vladimir Lenin
  • Does Marxism Adequately Explain the 1917 Russian Revolution
  • Bolsheviks!: The Russian Revolution and Stalin’s Rise to Power
  • Impact os the Russian Revolution on Russian Intellectuals
  • History of Jewish Population During the Russian Revolution of 1917
  • The Russian Revolution: How Did the Bolsheviks Gain Power
  • Modern Art and the Impact of the Russian Revolution
  • Russian Revolution and the Influence of Marxism
  • The Fundamental Causes of the Russian Revolution
  • Factors and Forces That Led to the Russian Revolution
  • Long and Short-Term Causes That Contributed to the 1917 Russian Revolution
  • The Causes of the Civil War Lie in Bolshevik Russian Revolution
  • Women’s Rights for Women in the Russian Revolution
  • The Russian Revolution, From Leninism to Stalinism
  • Political and Social Changes and Russian Revolution
  • The Russian Revolution: What Economic Lessons Does It Reveal?
  • Russian Revolution and Bolshevik Role of Leon Trotsky
  • The Different Social Causes of the Russian Revolution
  • Communism During the Russian Revolution of 1917
  • Understanding the Real Causes of the Russian Revolution
  • Causes and Effects Associated With the Russian Revolution
  • Analyze the Impact That the Russian Revolution Had on the Environment of the Country
  • The Impacts of the Russian Revolution of 1917
  • How Did the Russian Revolution Impact World War I?
  • Who Won the Russian Revolution?
  • What Is Duma in Russian Revolution?
  • What Were the Main Causes of the Russian Revolution?
  • What Was the Impact of Russian Revolution?
  • The Most Interesting Facts About the Russian Revolution?
  • How Did the Russian Revolution End?
  • Who Took Control of Russia After the Revolution?
  • What Are Effects of the Russian Revolution?
  • What Social Factors Caused Russian Revolution?
  • How Many Russians Died in the Revolution?
  • How Did the Russian Revolution Affect Other Countries?
  • When Did the Russian Revolution Start?
  • Who Led the Russian Revolution?
  • How Did the World React to the Russian Revolution?
  • Was the Russian Revolution a Success?
  • What Did the Russian Revolution Fight For?
  • What Leaders Were Involved in the Russian Revolution?
  • What Were the Main Effects of the Russian Revolution?
  • Who Lost the Russian Revolution?
  • What Was the Main Conflict of the Russian Revolution?
  • What Was Unique About the Russian Revolution?
  • How Many Soldiers Died in the Russian Revolution?
  • Was the Russian Revolution Planned?
  • When Did the Tsar Learn About the Beginning of the Russian Revolution?
  • Was It Possible to Avoid the Revolution?
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  1. History A Level: Russian October Revolution 1917 Essay Plan

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  2. Causes of the October Revolution

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  3. The World War I and the October Revolution

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  4. HISTORY 9/CHAPTER 2/SECTION 3.2/THE REVOLUTION OF OCTOBER 1917

    october revolution essay questions

  5. History A Level: Russian October Revolution 1917 Essay Plan

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  6. Changing interpretations of October revolution

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  2. The October Revolution (1917)

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COMMENTS

  1. Russian Revolution essay questions

    Revolutionary and reform movements. 1. Describe the ideas and methods adopted by Russian revolutionary movements in the 50 years prior to 1905. 2. With reference to three specific groups, explain why 19th-century Russian revolutionary groups were unable to overthrow, reform or moderate tsarism. 3.

  2. The Russian Revolution (1917-1918): Study Questions

    The political situation in Russia in the fall of 1917 was uncertain at best. The country was in a weak and confused state, reeling from World War I losses and under the vague, ineffective leadership of a temporary provisional government. Although many in the country were dissatisfied with the provisional government, there was a distinct lack of ...

  3. October Revolution

    Alexander Israel Helphand (born Sept. 8 [Aug. 27, Old Style], 1867, Berezino, Russia—died Dec. 12, 1924, Berlin) was a Russian- German socialist who helped enable Lenin to reenter Russia in 1917 from exile in Switzerland, thus helping to ignite the Russian Revolution of October 1917. (Read Leon Trotsky's 1926 Britannica essay on Lenin.)

  4. Causes of the October Revolution

    What 4 causes of the October Revolution are there? - Military. - Socio-economic. - Political. - Weaknesses of the Provisional Government. What was the most important cause of the October Revolution? Why? Weaknesses of the Provisional Government, these weaknesses both caused and worsened the other factors.

  5. Russian Revolution

    Russian Revolution, 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. (Read Leon Trotsky's 1926 Britannica essay on Lenin.) World War I and the decline of the Russian Empire

  6. October Revolution

    Red Guard unit of the Vulkan factory in Petrograd, October 1917 Bolshevik (1920) by Boris Kustodiev The New York Times headline from 9 November 1917. The October Revolution, also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution, (in Soviet historiography) or October Coup, was a revolution in Russia led by the Bolshevik Party of Vladimir Lenin that was a key moment in the larger Russian ...

  7. THE OCTOBER REVOLUTION

    The October Revolution, officially known as the Great October Socialist Revolution and commonly referred to as Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a seizure of state power instrumental in the larger Russian Revolution of 1917. It took place with an armed insurrection in Petrograd traditionally dated to 25 October ...

  8. October Revolution Essay Flashcards

    October Revolution Essay. Get a hint. Introduction. Click the card to flip 👆. In October 1917, a group of armed Bolsheviks took control of key areas of Petrograd and took control of Russia. They took control over the administrative centres with minimal violence, they then surrounded the Winter Palace and got rid of prime minister Kerensky ...

  9. PDF a Century of 1917s: ideas, representations, and interpretations of the

    of the october revolution, 1917-2017* andrea Graziosi 36, no. 1-2 (2019): 9-44. * This essay is based on a lecture that i delivered at the Harvard Ukrainian research institute on 6 november 2017, "rethinking the 1917 revolution," as well as on a presentation that i gave at the 100th anniversary roundtable

  10. October Revolution essay plan Flashcards

    Shows that the failures of the PG were most important in causing the October Revolution. Williams suggests that not many people knew what the Bolsheviks stood for, and Shukman is of the opinion that they had little popular support. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Introduction, Mistakes of Provisional Government ...

  11. The October Bolshevik Revolution Of 1917 History Essay

    On October 24-25, 1917, pro-Bolshevik soldiers, sailors, and Red Guards stormed the Winter Palace and arrested members of the Provisional Government. Often referred to as the "bloodless coup", this action allowed the Bolsheviks to gain power, with the majority of the seats being handed to them on the following election day (Le Blanc 7).

  12. Provisional Government & October Revolution

    This unit, based around an extended decision-making exercise, helps students investigate the causes of the Bolshevik Revolution of October 1917. By so doing they will determine whether it was a popular uprising, or a coup d'etat. They will also decide how important Lenin personally was in precipitating this central 20th Century event. Study Guide.

  13. ESSAY PLANS

    ESSAY PLANS. Here are some examples of plans that can be used when writing an essay on the subject of Communism in Russia: Question 1 - Evaluate the causes of Bolshevik success in the October 1917 Revolution. Question 2 - What part did Lenin play in the establishment of the Soviet Union?

  14. The October Revolution in Russia

    The October Revolution did not, however, mark a new stage in history or humankind's inevitable progression toward a communist utopia. And the Soviet system that resulted from it, while socialist in some respects, was characterized by institutions of government control and state violence. A century after the October Revolution, we can see that ...

  15. PDF Unit Y318 Russia and its Rulers 1855 1964 Sample Question Paper ...

    2* Assess the view that the October Revolution of 1917 changed Russian government more than other events in the period from 1855 to 1964. [25] ... If you have any questions or comments for your Team Leader, use the phone, the scoris messaging system, or e-mail. 9. Assistant Examiners will send a brief report on the performance of candidates to ...

  16. October Revolution

    The October Revolution was the second and the last major part of the Russian Revolution of 1917. It is also known as the Bolshevik Revolution. This Military Revolution Committee was led by Trotsky and they were able to garner the support of Petrograd Garrison and Kronstadt sailors. The Prime Minister ordered the arrest of Bolshevik leaders in ...

  17. Reasons for Bolshevik success

    National 5; October Revolution - Causes, events, effects Reasons for Bolshevik success. The period after the February Revolution which deposed the Tsar had seen little change, and in October 1917 ...

  18. Select and Explain the Most Important Reasons For the October

    Some of the most important causes of this revolution were, The weakness of the Provisional government, the March revolution, the first world war, Lenin's determination and use of propaganda and also the fact that the Bolsheviks had the support of the soviets. In March 1917 there was a huge revolution.

  19. What was Trotsky's role in the October Russian Revolution?

    Expert Answers. The brief answer to this is that Leon Trotsky's main role in the October Revolution was that of military leader. Trotsky was the man who planned the overthrow of the provisional ...

  20. 86 Russian Revolution Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    The Russian Revolution refers to one of the most significant historical events in the world history. This event covered two revolutions rooted in Russia: the February Revolution and the October Revolution of 1917. We will write. a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts. 809 writers online.

  21. Russia past question essay plans Flashcards

    Russia past question essay plans. 'The Bolshevik consolidation of power by 1921 was due to the popularity of their policies.'. A consolidation of power could be defined as elimination of opponents, support of masses (in case of bolsheviks many opposes were killed or surpassed) and a strong party. It was a combination of Bolshevik policies ...

  22. A Level History Russia Example Exam Questions

    assess the validity of this view. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like it was economic distress in Petrograd that brought about Nicholas II abdication in March 1917. explain why you agree/disagree with this view, how significant was economic distress in the revolution of February/March 1917, "by the summer of 1917 ...