The October 1917 Revolution
The Bolsheviks take over
The Tsarist Regime
, October Revolution 1917
KEY DATES AND EVENETS IN 1917
ì MARCH 1905 – TWO PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENTS
FORMED (TSAR ABDICATES)
TH
ì APRIL 4 : APRRIL THESES
ì JUNE – 16 JUNE OFFESIVE
ì JULY – 3-4 JULY DAYS
ì AUGUST: 26 – 30 KORNILOV AFFAIR
ì OCTOBER: 25 – 26 BOLSHEVIK SEIZURE OF POWER
Was the October Revolution inevitable?
Support for the Bolsheviks grew rapidly during the summer and soon they became the focus for all
opposition to the Provisional Government. The frustration of soldiers and workers exploded in the
July Days, which was partly engineered by middle – ranking Bolsheviks. However, after the July
Days, the Bolsheviks were still not ready to take power because they were still were not the tightly
disciplined, unified body that some thought they were, although its organization was better than that
of other parties, and so the uprising fizzled out.
Additionally, the Kornilov affair was disastrous for right wing forces and the PG and therefore gave
the Bolsheviks a boost. Lenin then urged his party leadership to state an immediate uprising but,
initially, they were reluctant. One of the reluctant members was Trotsky, who advised Lenin to put off
the uprising until the All Russian Congress of Soviets so that the Bolsheviks could claim to have
taken power in the same name of the soviets. However, Lenin did not listen and went forth with this
revolution. On the night of the 24th October, the Bolsheviks take over the Winter Palace.
The April Thesis:
Upon Lenin’s return into Russia on April 4th, he had goals of policies and ideas that he would present
in the April Conference of the Bolsheviks. The April Thesis was focused on the goals of the
Bolsheviks in maintaining the movement of the February revolution in order to spell the end of
capitalism and elevate the working class around the world.
The main ideas of the Thesis were:
• The purpose of the revolution has not changed and the Bolsheviks still see it as a war to
overthrow capitalist and imperialism aggression
• Bolsheviks will not support the PG of Russia, which is filled with bourgeoisie capitalists who
stole power from the people in the Feb Revolution
• The Bolsheviks want the end of WW1 and create a republic of Soviet workers, not a
parliamentary republic
• Banks will be nationalized
• A workers administration will be created to replace the bourgeoisie bureaucracy, and workers
will be placed in charge of production
• The Bolsheviks will become the Communist Party, who will create a new International to propel
the world revolution
, Impact of the April Thesis:
Through the April Thesis, Lenin gave the impression that he had understood, better than many
Bolshevik leaders in Russia, the feelings and aspirations of the workers and soldiers. Through the
April Thesis, Lenin’s position was vindicated – party membership rose from about 10,000 in April to
500,000 in October, with industrial workers making up 60% of the membership. However, the most
important thing the April Thesis did, was give the Bolshevik party an aim and a voice. Workers now
knew that the leader they were following was fighting for causes they believed in as well. This
program would not have existed without the April Thesis of Lenin.
Analyzing the factors that caused the October Revolution, which allowed Lenin to seize
power:
NOTE: FOR LONG AND MID TERM CAUSES (SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC) SEE THE
CAUSES OF THE FEBRUARY REVOLUTION. THE ISSUES WHICH CAUSED THE ABDICATION
OF THE TSAR ARE STILL PRESENT IN OCTOBER 1917 AND FORM THE FOUNDATION FOR
THE ONGOING CRISIS IN RUSSIA WHICH LENIN AND THE BOLSHEVIKS ARE ABLE TO
EXPLOIT
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PROBLEMS:
LAND AND AGRICULTURE: The methods that were being utilized were inefficient and backwards.
They still used wooden ploughs and very few animals and tools. There was not enough land to go
around and there was a vast expansion of peasant population in the later half of the 19th century,
which led to overcrowding and competition for land. The peasants wanted social change!
URBAN WORKERS AND INDUSTRY: Around 58% of urban workers were literate, twice the national
average. This meant that they could articulate their grievances and were receptive to revolutionary
ideas. Wages were generally low and high number of deaths occurred from accidents and work
related health issues. The industry production was very low in the start of the 19th century but
increased fast and by 1914, Russia was the fourth largest producer of iron, steal and coal. Instability
in cities and the misery of the workers led to social and political instability in the towns
Economic problems
Inflation: From 1917 – 1917 inflation increased by 400%.
There was also a crisis in the cities. They were overcrowded, with poor housing and poor living and
working conditions. These all in turn were created by the economic problems in Russia and led to
social tension in the cities.
Continued impact of WW1: Social and Economic problems
The war caused acute distress in the cities, especially in the cities. The war meant that food, goods
and raw material were in short supply and hundreds of factories closed down with thousands of
workers put out of work. This all led to inflation and the lack of fuel meant that most people were cold
as well as hungry. This led urban workers to become more hostile towards the Provisional
Government. Additionally, in the countryside, the peasants became increasingly angry about the
conscription of all young men who seldom returned from the Front.
The Bolsheviks take over
The Tsarist Regime
, October Revolution 1917
KEY DATES AND EVENETS IN 1917
ì MARCH 1905 – TWO PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENTS
FORMED (TSAR ABDICATES)
TH
ì APRIL 4 : APRRIL THESES
ì JUNE – 16 JUNE OFFESIVE
ì JULY – 3-4 JULY DAYS
ì AUGUST: 26 – 30 KORNILOV AFFAIR
ì OCTOBER: 25 – 26 BOLSHEVIK SEIZURE OF POWER
Was the October Revolution inevitable?
Support for the Bolsheviks grew rapidly during the summer and soon they became the focus for all
opposition to the Provisional Government. The frustration of soldiers and workers exploded in the
July Days, which was partly engineered by middle – ranking Bolsheviks. However, after the July
Days, the Bolsheviks were still not ready to take power because they were still were not the tightly
disciplined, unified body that some thought they were, although its organization was better than that
of other parties, and so the uprising fizzled out.
Additionally, the Kornilov affair was disastrous for right wing forces and the PG and therefore gave
the Bolsheviks a boost. Lenin then urged his party leadership to state an immediate uprising but,
initially, they were reluctant. One of the reluctant members was Trotsky, who advised Lenin to put off
the uprising until the All Russian Congress of Soviets so that the Bolsheviks could claim to have
taken power in the same name of the soviets. However, Lenin did not listen and went forth with this
revolution. On the night of the 24th October, the Bolsheviks take over the Winter Palace.
The April Thesis:
Upon Lenin’s return into Russia on April 4th, he had goals of policies and ideas that he would present
in the April Conference of the Bolsheviks. The April Thesis was focused on the goals of the
Bolsheviks in maintaining the movement of the February revolution in order to spell the end of
capitalism and elevate the working class around the world.
The main ideas of the Thesis were:
• The purpose of the revolution has not changed and the Bolsheviks still see it as a war to
overthrow capitalist and imperialism aggression
• Bolsheviks will not support the PG of Russia, which is filled with bourgeoisie capitalists who
stole power from the people in the Feb Revolution
• The Bolsheviks want the end of WW1 and create a republic of Soviet workers, not a
parliamentary republic
• Banks will be nationalized
• A workers administration will be created to replace the bourgeoisie bureaucracy, and workers
will be placed in charge of production
• The Bolsheviks will become the Communist Party, who will create a new International to propel
the world revolution
, Impact of the April Thesis:
Through the April Thesis, Lenin gave the impression that he had understood, better than many
Bolshevik leaders in Russia, the feelings and aspirations of the workers and soldiers. Through the
April Thesis, Lenin’s position was vindicated – party membership rose from about 10,000 in April to
500,000 in October, with industrial workers making up 60% of the membership. However, the most
important thing the April Thesis did, was give the Bolshevik party an aim and a voice. Workers now
knew that the leader they were following was fighting for causes they believed in as well. This
program would not have existed without the April Thesis of Lenin.
Analyzing the factors that caused the October Revolution, which allowed Lenin to seize
power:
NOTE: FOR LONG AND MID TERM CAUSES (SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC) SEE THE
CAUSES OF THE FEBRUARY REVOLUTION. THE ISSUES WHICH CAUSED THE ABDICATION
OF THE TSAR ARE STILL PRESENT IN OCTOBER 1917 AND FORM THE FOUNDATION FOR
THE ONGOING CRISIS IN RUSSIA WHICH LENIN AND THE BOLSHEVIKS ARE ABLE TO
EXPLOIT
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PROBLEMS:
LAND AND AGRICULTURE: The methods that were being utilized were inefficient and backwards.
They still used wooden ploughs and very few animals and tools. There was not enough land to go
around and there was a vast expansion of peasant population in the later half of the 19th century,
which led to overcrowding and competition for land. The peasants wanted social change!
URBAN WORKERS AND INDUSTRY: Around 58% of urban workers were literate, twice the national
average. This meant that they could articulate their grievances and were receptive to revolutionary
ideas. Wages were generally low and high number of deaths occurred from accidents and work
related health issues. The industry production was very low in the start of the 19th century but
increased fast and by 1914, Russia was the fourth largest producer of iron, steal and coal. Instability
in cities and the misery of the workers led to social and political instability in the towns
Economic problems
Inflation: From 1917 – 1917 inflation increased by 400%.
There was also a crisis in the cities. They were overcrowded, with poor housing and poor living and
working conditions. These all in turn were created by the economic problems in Russia and led to
social tension in the cities.
Continued impact of WW1: Social and Economic problems
The war caused acute distress in the cities, especially in the cities. The war meant that food, goods
and raw material were in short supply and hundreds of factories closed down with thousands of
workers put out of work. This all led to inflation and the lack of fuel meant that most people were cold
as well as hungry. This led urban workers to become more hostile towards the Provisional
Government. Additionally, in the countryside, the peasants became increasingly angry about the
conscription of all young men who seldom returned from the Front.
