Plan

Revolution of 1917 in Russia

February Revolution

Politics of the Provisional Government

February to October

October Revolution

The rise of the Bolsheviks to power

II Congress of Soviets

Revolution of 1917 in Russia

Russia's entry into the First World War for some time removed the acuteness of social contradictions. All segments of the population rallied around the government in a single patriotic impulse. The defeat at the front in the fight against Germany, the deterioration in the situation of the people caused by the war, gave rise to mass discontent.

The situation was aggravated by the economic crisis that emerged in 1915-1916. Industry, reorganized on a war footing, generally provided for the needs of the front. However, its one-sided development led to the fact that the rear suffered from a shortage of consumer goods. The consequence of this was an increase in prices and an increase in inflation: the purchasing power of the ruble fell to 27 kopecks. Fuel and transport crises developed. The capacity of the railways did not provide military transportation and the uninterrupted delivery of food to the city. The food crisis was especially acute. The peasants, not receiving the necessary industrial goods, refused to supply the products of their economy to the market. In Russia, for the first time, queues for bread appeared. Speculation flourished. The defeat of Russia on the fronts of the First World War dealt a significant blow to the public consciousness. The population is tired of the protracted war. Worker strikes and peasant unrest grew. At the front, fraternization with the enemy and desertion became more frequent. The revolutionary agitators used all the government's blunders to discredit the ruling elites. The Bolsheviks wanted the defeat of the tsarist government and called on the peoples to turn the war from imperialist to civil.

Liberal opposition intensified. The confrontation between the State Duma and the government intensified. The foundation of the June 3rd political system, the cooperation between the bourgeois parties and the autocracy, was crumbling. Speech by N.N. Milyukov on November 4, 1916, with sharp criticism of the policies of the tsar and the ministers, marked the beginning of a "denunciatory" company in the IV State Duma. The "Progressive Bloc" - an inter-parliamentary coalition of the majority of Duma factions - demanded the creation of a government of "people's confidence" responsible to the Duma. However, Nicholas II rejected this proposal.

Nicholas II catastrophically lost his authority in society due to the "dissputinism", the unceremonious interference of Tsarina Alexander Feodorovna in state affairs and his inept actions as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. By the winter of 1916-1917. all segments of the Russian population realized the inability of the tsarist government to overcome the political and economic crisis.

February Revolution.

In early 1917, interruptions in food supplies intensified in big cities Russia. By mid-February, 90,000 Petrograd workers went on strike because of a shortage of speculation bread and rising prices. On February 18, the workers of the Putilov factory joined them. The administration announced its closure. This was the reason for the beginning of mass demonstrations in the capital.

On February 23 (according to the new style - March 8), workers took to the streets of Petrograd with the slogans "Bread!", "Down with the war!", "Down with the autocracy!" Their political demonstration marked the beginning of the Revolution. On February 25, the strike in Petrograd became general. Demonstrations and rallies did not stop.

On the evening of February 25, Nicholas II, who was in Mogilev, sent the commander of the Petrograd Military District S.S. A telegram to Khabalov with a categorical demand to stop the unrest. Attempts by the authorities to use the troops did not give a positive effect, the soldiers refused to shoot at the people. However, more than 150 people were killed by officers and police on 26 February. In response, the guards of the Pavlovsky regiment, supporting the workers, opened fire on the police.

Chairman of the Duma M.V. Rodzianko warned Nicholas II that the government was paralyzed and "anarchy in the capital." To prevent the development of the revolution, he insisted on the immediate creation of a new government headed by a statesman who enjoys the confidence of society. However, the king rejected his proposal.

Moreover, he and the Council of Ministers decided to suspend the meeting of the Duma and dissolve it for the holidays. Nicholas II sent troops to suppress the revolution, but a small detachment of General N.I. Ivanov was detained and not allowed into the capital.

On February 27, the mass defection of soldiers to the side of the workers, their capture of the arsenal and the Peter and Paul Fortress marked the victory of the revolution.

The arrests of tsarist ministers and the formation of new authorities began. On the same day, in factories and military units, based on the experience of 1905, when the first bodies of workers' political power were born, elections were held for the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' Soldiers' Deputies. An Executive Committee was elected to direct its activities. The Menshevik N.S. became chairman. Chkheidze, his deputy - Socialist-Revolutionary A.F. Kepensky. The Executive Committee took upon itself the maintenance of public order and the supply of food to the population. On February 27, at a meeting of the leaders of the Duma factions, it was decided to form a Provisional Committee of the State Duma headed by M.V. Rodzianko. The task of the committee was "Restoration of state and public order", the creation of a new government. The Provisional Committee took control of all ministries.

On February 28, Nicholas II left Headquarters for Tsarskoye Selo, but was detained on the way by revolutionary troops. He had to turn to Pskov, to the headquarters of the northern front. After consulting with the front commanders, he became convinced that there were no forces to suppress the revolution. On March 2, Nicholas signed the Manifesto on abdication for himself and his son Alexei in favor of his brother, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich. However, when Duma deputies A.I. Guchkov and V.V. Shulgin brought the text of the Manifesto to Petrograd, it became clear that the people did not want a monarchy. On March 3, Mikhail abdicated the throne, declaring that the Constituent Assembly should decide the fate of the political system in Russia. The 300-year rule of classes and parties is over.

The bourgeoisie, a significant part of the wealthy intelligentsia (about 4 million people) relied on economic power, education, experience in participating in political life and managing state institutions. They sought to prevent further development revolution, stabilize the socio-political situation and consolidate their property. The working class (18 million people) consisted of urban and rural proletarians. They managed to feel their political strength, were predisposed to revolutionary agitation and were ready to defend their rights with weapons. They fought for the introduction of the 8-hour working day, the guarantee of employment, wage increases. Factory committees sprang up spontaneously in the cities. To establish workers' control over production and resolve disputes with entrepreneurs.

The peasantry (30 million people) demanded the destruction of large private land ownership and the transfer of land to those who cultivate it. Local land committees and village assemblies were created in the village, which made decisions on the redistribution of land. Relations between peasants and landlords were extremely tense.

The extreme right (monarchists, Black Hundreds) suffered a complete collapse after the February revolution.

Cadets from the opposition party became the ruling party, initially occupying key positions in the interim government. They stood for the transformation of Russia into a parliamentary republic. In the agrarian question, they still advocated the redemption of the landed estates by the state and the peasants.

The Social Revolutionaries are the most massive party. The revolutionaries proposed turning Russia into a federal republic of free nations.

The Mensheviks, the second largest and most influential party, advocated the creation of a democratic republic.

The Bolsheviks took extreme left positions. In March, the party leadership was ready to cooperate with other social forces. However, after the return of V.I. Lenin from immigration, the April Theses program was adopted.

Provisional government policy.

In its declaration on March 3, the government promised to introduce political freedoms and a broad amnesty, abolish the death penalty, and prohibit all class, national and religious discrimination. However, the internal political course of the interim government proved to be contradictory. All the main organs of central and local government have been preserved. Under the pressure of the masses, Nicholas II and members of his family were arrested. On July 31, Nicholas with his wife and children were sent into exile in Siberia. An Extraordinary Commission was set up to investigate the activities of senior officials of the old regime. Adoption of a law on the introduction of an 8-hour working day.

In April 1917, the first government crisis broke out. It was caused by the general social tension in the country. Miliukov addressed the Allied Powers on April 18 with assurances of Russia's determination to bring the war to a victorious end. This led to extreme indignation of the people, mass rallies and demonstrations demanding an immediate end to the war, the transfer of power to the Soviets, the resignation of Milyukov and A.I. Guchkov. On July 3-4, mass armaments, demonstrations of workers and soldiers took place in Petrograd. The slogans "All power to the Soviets" were put forward again. The demonstration was broken up. Repressions began against the Bolsheviks and the Left Social Revolutionaries, who were accused of preparing an armed seizure of power.

Measures were taken to strengthen discipline in the army, and the death penalty was restored at the front. The influence of the Petrograd and other Soviets temporarily decreased. The dual power was over. From this moment, according to V.I. Lenin, the stage of the revolution ended, when power could pass to the Soviets peacefully.

From February to October.

The February Revolution has won. The old state system collapsed. A new political situation has emerged. However, the victory of the revolution did not prevent further deepening of the crisis state of the country. Economic disruption intensified.

The time from February to October is a special period in the history of Russia. It has two stages.

At the first (March - early July 1917) there was dual power, in which the provisional government was forced to coordinate all its actions with the Petrograd Soviet, which occupied more radical positions and had the support of the broad masses of the people.

At the second stage (July - October 25, 1917), the dual power was over. The autocracy of the provisional government was established in the form of a coalition of the liberal bourgeoisie. However, this political alliance failed to achieve the consolidation of society. Social tension has intensified in the country. On the one hand, the indignation of the masses was growing at the government's delays in carrying out the most urgent economic, social and political transformations. On the other hand, the rightists were dissatisfied with the weakness of the government, with insufficiently decisive measures to curb the "revolutionary element." Monarchists and right-wing bourgeois parties were ready to support the establishment of a military dictatorship. The extreme left Bolsheviks headed for the seizure of political power under the slogan "All power to the Soviets!".

October Revolution. The coming of the Bolsheviks to power.

On October 10, the Central Committee of the RSDLP (b) adopted a resolution on an armed uprising. She was opposed by L.B. Kamenev and G.E. Zinoviev. They believed that preparations for an uprising were premature and that it was necessary to fight for increasing the influence of the Bolsheviks in the future Constituent Assembly. IN AND. Lenin insisted on the immediate seizure of power through an armed uprising. His point of view won.

The Left Socialist-Revolutionary P.E. Lazimir, and the actual leader - L.D. Trotsky (Chairman of the Petrosoviet since September 1917). The Military Revolutionary Committee was created to protect the Soviets from a military putsch and Petrograd. On October 16, the Central Committee of the RSDLP (b) created the Bolshevik Military Revolutionary Center (VRC). He joined the VRC and began to direct its activities. By the evening of October 24, the government was blockaded in the Winter Palace.

On the morning of October 25, the appeal of the Military Revolutionary Committee "To the citizens of Russia!" was published. It announced the overthrow of the provisional government and the transfer of power to the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee. On the night of October 25-26, ministers of the provisional government were arrested in the Winter Palace.

IICongress of Soviets.

On the evening of October 25, the II All-Russian Congress of Soviets opened. More than half of its deputies were Bolsheviks, and the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries had 100 mandates.

On the night of October 25-26, the congress adopted an appeal to the workers, soldiers and peasants, and proclaimed the establishment Soviet power. The Mensheviks and Right SRs condemned the action of the Bolsheviks and left the congress in protest. Therefore, all the decrees of the II Congress were permeated with the ideas of the Bolsheviks and the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries.

On the evening of October 26, the congress unanimously adopted the Decree on Peace, which called for the belligerents to conclude a democratic peace without annexations and indemnities.

1917 is the year of upheavals and revolutions in Russia, and its finale came on the night of October 25, when all power passed to the Soviets. What are the causes, course, results of the Great October Socialist Revolution - these and other questions of history are at the center of our attention today.

The reasons

Many historians argue that the events that took place in October 1917 were inevitable and at the same time unexpected. Why? Inevitable, because by this time in Russian Empire a certain situation arose that predetermined the further course of history. This was due to a number of reasons:

• Results of the February Revolution : she was greeted with unprecedented enthusiasm and enthusiasm, which soon turned into the opposite - bitter disappointment. Indeed, the performance of the revolutionary-minded "lower classes" - soldiers, workers and peasants, led to a serious shift - the overthrow of the monarchy. But this is where the achievements of the revolution ended. The expected reforms "hung in the air": the longer the Provisional Government put off consideration of pressing problems, the faster discontent in society grew;
• Overthrow of the monarchy : March 2 (15), 1917 Russian Emperor Nicholas II signed the abdication. However, the question of the form of government in Russia - a monarchy or a republic, remained open. The provisional government decided to consider it during the next convocation of the Constituent Assembly. Such uncertainty could lead to only one thing - anarchy, which happened.
• The mediocre policy of the Provisional Government : the slogans under which the February Revolution took place, its aspirations and achievements were actually buried by the actions of the Provisional Government: Russia's participation in the First World War continued; a majority vote in the government blocked the land reform and the reduction of the working day to 8 hours; the autocracy was not annulled;
• Russia's participation in the First World War: any war is an extremely costly undertaking. It literally "sucks" all the juices out of the country: people, production, money - everything goes to its maintenance. First World War was no exception, and Russia's participation in it undermined the country's economy. After the February Revolution, the Provisional Government did not retreat from its obligations to the allies. But discipline in the army was already undermined, and general desertion began in the army.
• Anarchy: already in the name of the government of that period - the Provisional Government, the spirit of the times can be traced - order and stability were destroyed, and they were replaced by anarchy - anarchy, lawlessness, confusion, spontaneity. This manifested itself in all spheres of the country's life: an autonomous government was formed in Siberia, which was not subordinate to the capital; Finland and Poland declared independence; in the villages, the peasants were engaged in unauthorized redistribution of land, burned the landowners' estates; the government was mainly engaged in the struggle with the Soviets for power; the disintegration of the army and many other events;
• The rapid growth of the influence of the Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies : During the February Revolution, the Bolshevik Party was not among the most popular. But over time, this organization becomes the main political player. Their populist slogans for an immediate end to the war and for reforms found great support among the embittered workers, peasants, soldiers and police. Not the last was the role of Lenin as the founder and leader of the Bolshevik Party, which carried out the October Revolution of 1917.

Rice. 1. Mass strikes in 1917

Stages of the uprising

Before speaking briefly about the revolution of 1917 in Russia, it is necessary to answer the question of the suddenness of the uprising itself. The fact is that the actually established dual power in the country - the Provisional Government and the Bolsheviks, should have ended in some kind of explosion and in the future with the victory of one of the parties. Therefore, the Soviets began preparations for the seizure of power in August, and the government at that time was preparing and taking measures to prevent it. But the events that happened on the night of October 25, 1917 came as a complete surprise to the latter. The consequences of the establishment of Soviet power also became unpredictable.

As early as October 16, 1917, the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party adopted fateful decision- prepare for an armed uprising.

On October 18, the Petrograd garrison refused to submit to the Provisional Government, and on October 21, representatives of the garrison declared their submission to the Petrograd Soviet, as the only representative of the legitimate authority in the country. Starting on October 24, the key points of Petrograd - bridges, railway stations, telegraphs, banks, power plants and printing houses - were captured by the Military Revolutionary Committee. On the morning of October 25, the Provisional Government held only one object - Winter Palace. Despite this, at 10 o'clock in the morning of the same day, an appeal was issued, which announced that henceforth the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies was the only body of state power in Russia.

In the evening at 9 o'clock, a blank shot from the Aurora cruiser signaled the beginning of the assault on the Winter Palace, and on the night of October 26, members of the Provisional Government were arrested.

Rice. 2. The streets of Petrograd on the eve of the uprising

Results

As you know, history does not like the subjunctive mood. It is impossible to say what would have happened if this or that event had not happened and vice versa. Everything that happens happens due to not a single reason, but to the multitudes that at one moment intersect at one point and show the world an event with all its positive and negative moments: Civil War, a huge number of dead, millions who left the country forever, terror, the construction of an industrial power, the elimination of illiteracy, free education, medical care, building the world's first socialist state and much more. But, but talking about the main meaning October revolution 1917, one thing should be said - it was a profound revolution in the ideology, economy and structure of the state as a whole, which influenced not only the course of the history of Russia, but of the whole world.

What happened in 1917? This is not a USE test question, and I believe that most readers still remember the Soviet school curriculum on history and even, perhaps, Lenin's words about the event that took place 100 years back:

"The socialist revolution, about the necessity of which the Bolsheviks spoke so much, has come to pass."

These words were spoken by the leader of the Bolshevik Party immediately after the storming of the Winter Palace at the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, which began simultaneously with the storming. By the way, the assault on the palace, which was defended only by a company from the 1st Petrograd Women's Battalion, was practically bloodless. The company did not show significant resistance, no one shot the women from this company after the assault. They were disarmed, and a couple of days later the entire battalion was disbanded and the women were sent home. How did it happen that the Winter Palace was so poorly guarded? How did it happen that almost the entire Petrograd garrison took part in the assault on Zimny ​​and the capture of the city, and only the women's battalion guarded the palace from rebellious soldiers?

The Cossack regiments, on which Kerensky had high hopes, declared their neutrality and refused to obey the Provisional Government. On the afternoon of October 24, the soldiers of the 1st scooter battalion left the Winter Palace. The cars of the armored and reserve divisions, which had guarded the Winter Palace around the clock, also left. Two Bolsheviks from this division, soldiers I. Zhdanovich and A. Morozov, persistently urged their comrades to refuse to support the counter-revolutionary government. Despite the resistance of the Socialist-Revolutionaries, who were many in the unit, the general meeting of the division, after lengthy disputes, accepted the proposal of the Bolsheviks. Armored vehicles equipped with machine guns and three-inch guns left Palace Square.

In other words, there was no support for the Provisional Government either among the people or in the army. Agitators of the Bolsheviks and other leftist opposition parties split the army from the Provisional Government, swaying it in favor of subordination to the Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, which had already been created by that time. Of course, the officer corps mostly kept the oath, but after February, the abdication of the king from the throne, and the oath did not bind them too much. In addition, you can’t go against your own soldiers, they can shoot you. By decision of his Soldiers' Council. Soviets were everywhere, and they were the most effective weapon of the revolution. In October 1917, there were 1,429 Soviets in Russia, including over 700 Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. Attempts to present the events of 1917 as a coup are completely unsuccessful. A handful of revolutionaries could not break a rather powerful state mechanism without the support of the bulk of the people, without the creation of alternative power structures. In general, it is not correct to say that it was the Bolsheviks who seized power in October 1917. Power was seized by the Soviets, the new organizational structure of the people. Created, of course, under the influence of the Bolsheviks, but not only them, but several left opposition parties - the Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks took part in them. Only the further development of the revolution separated these parties in different directions and brought to power precisely the Bolshevik wing of the opposition. And in this the most consistent program of the Bolsheviks played a role, its greatest correspondence to the interests of the bulk of the population. By creating an alternative democratic power structure - the Soviets and putting forward a program that is attractive to the majority of the country's population, the Bolsheviks were doomed to success.

What was attractive in the program of the Bolsheviks? What tempted the people so much? Why were the Bolshevik agitators able to win over the army to their side? What was the "technology" of that revolution? Russia at the beginning of the 20th century was an agrarian country, where more than 80% of the population was a peasantry. The army, accordingly, also consisted mainly of representatives of the village. And the main issue for the peasants then was the question of land. The land was mostly owned by the landowners. On average, one landowner had as much land as 300 peasant households. And I must say that this was not always a sign of wealth, the nobility, who owned estates and lands, was in debt. Solonevich calls these debts one of the reasons for the February Revolution:

The Russian nobility stood on the eve of a complete economic catastrophe, just as it stood before Peter the Great on the eve of a political one. AT prewar years noble landownership lost up to three million acres a year. The debt of the nobility to the state reached a monstrous sum of three billion rubles. If this amount is translated even into the price of a pound of meat (about two hryvnia in Russia then and about a dollar in the USA (USA - USA. - Ed.) now), then it will equal 12-15 billion dollars. Two or three Marshall Plans combined. The nobility had no way to cover this debt - it faced complete bankruptcy.

Solonevich, being a monarchist, is almost like Lenin calls the social causes of the revolution. The aristocracy, being all in debt, could no longer hold power. The new bourgeoisie was rushing to power.

"The aristocracy and the bourgeoisie had perfectly clear and class motives." Solonevich writes.

And if a monarchist writes such words, then obviously it was not the leftist ideology that dictated them. Even in the revolution of 1905, the peasantry showed itself in revolts against the nobility. Not against the king, but against the aristocracy. Even then the land issue was the main one. What exactly aggravated him so much? Solonevich, referring to Oldenburg, writes about "tragic contradictions", almost like Marx:

The main of these tragic contradictions was that at the beginning of the 20th century, a completely clearly expressed estate system continued to exist in the country. That at the same time, the bulk of the country's population - its peasantry was deprived of rights either economically or politically, or in everyday life, and, moreover, in administrative terms. The bill on peasant equality was introduced to the Legislative Chambers by P.A. Stolypin. State Council shredded and postponed this bill as best he could, and only in the autumn of 1916, that is, quite on the eve of the revolution, did this draft come to the consideration of the State Duma - and it remained unconsidered ... and still (Oldenburg, p. 180). I formulated this position almost fourteen years ago in the Theses of the Headquarters Movement (p. 9):

"The genius of the Russian people was squeezed into the iron grip of serfdom and those of its remnants that existed before 1917."

Simply put, the cauldron of popular anger warmed up, warmed up, and finally boiled. And, it should be noted that it was not just social inequality that warmed him. After all, for hundreds of years the peasantry was in actual slavery to the nobles. But endured. Because there were some justifications for this inequality. Nobility served sovereign. Not just obeyed, but literally fought and died for the king and the fatherland. It was a military class, professional military, as they say now. In the Middle Ages, the nobility carried out permanent military service, while the rest of the population was called to serve it only in cases of special danger to the country.. For this service, the sovereign gave land to the nobles. In the Muscovite state at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, the “local system” took shape. Grand Duke transferred the estate to a serviceman who was obliged for this by military service. For the first time, Peter I founded a permanent army of noblemen who were in compulsory service and the collection of dependent people, the so-called recruits. In 1762, for a short time, he lingered on the throne Peter III issued the most important document regulating the legal status of the nobility in Russia - the Manifesto "On the Liberty of the Nobility" dated February 18, 1762. This document was adopted in order to satisfy the requirements of the nobility, who considered themselves "infringed", since it was obliged to serve the state. The fact that he was given in exchange for the service of the land was forgotten for some reason. The manifesto freed the nobles from military duty. Prior to this, during the reign of Elizabeth, a Decree was issued that forbade anyone, except for the nobles, to buy "people and peasants without land and with land." Land ownership and soul ownership began to become the exclusive right of the nobles.

Little by little, from military service first the nobles were released (1762), then the merchants, honorary citizens, the clergy, so that its burden lay, finally, exclusively on the peasants and philistines. However, the nobility was not deprived of the lands that they had once received from the sovereign for their service. Thus, freed from compulsory service to the state, the landlords turned from the service class into an idle, purely consumer class of slave owners. Military reform Alexander II reintroduced universal conscription in 1872. From the statute:

"one. The defense of the throne and the fatherland is the sacred duty of every Russian subject. The male population, without distinction of condition, is subject to military service.

2. Monetary redemption from military service and replacement by a hunter is not allowed. ... "

After the reforms of Alexander II, the nobility was forced to pay the peasants for their work. Capitalism began to make its own adjustments. As a result, from 1877 to 1914. the nobility lost almost two-thirds of its land fund. Particularly active noble lands were sold in 1906–1909. And the new bourgeois owners did not at all add legitimacy in owning land in the eyes of the peasants. Alexander's reforms eliminated slavery, which in essence was serfdom, but did not improve the economic situation of the peasants, who formed the backbone of the Russian people. In general, the history of the emergence of serfdom, which for some reason appeared after the liquidation Tatar-Mongol yoke and two independent republics with veche government (Novgorod and Pskov) raises many questions. Almost the entire population of the country becomes slaves after leaving the "Tatar captivity" and the elimination of veche forms of government, isn't it strange? Even Rome made only foreigners slaves, why in Russia did their fellow peasants become slaves?

How did the Bolsheviks attract the sympathy of the people before the revolution of 1917? The slogan "Land to the peasants!". Along with the slogan "All power to the Soviets!". April theses of V.I. Lenin:

1. The bourgeois-democratic revolution is over. The Provisional Government is unable to solve problems, hence the slogan of the Bolsheviks:"No support for the interim government."

2. Heading for socialist revolution: "All power to the Soviets." Get the resignation of the government and the Soviets take power into their own hands. The possibility of a peaceful revolution, the transfer of power into the hands of the workers.

3. Immediate nationalization of land, beginning peace treaties and making peace with Germany.

4. The right of nations to self-determination. United and indivisible Russia.

That is, power to the Soviets, land to the peasants, and peace with Germany. Isn't that what the peasantry wanted? Soldiers tired of the war and worried about their abandoned farm? The Bolsheviks until June 1917 did not have a majority in the Soviets. Essers and Mensheviks were in the first roles there. But the re-election of deputies in June brought victory to the Bolsheviks in the Soviets. And they earned this victory with just such a program. And they, unlike modern parties, fulfilled this program. Power was transferred to the Soviets, peace was concluded with Germany, and the land was transferred to the peasants. The first decrees of the Soviet government were,, and .... Such were the bloodthirsty Bolsheviks.

The first decrees of the Soviet government

From : Adopted at a meeting of the II All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers', Peasants' and Soldiers' Deputies at 2 o'clock in the night on October 27 (November 9), 1917:

1. Landlord ownership of land is abolished immediately without any redemption.

Landlord estates, as well as all appanage, monastic, church lands, with all their living and dead inventory, estate buildings and all accessories, go to the disposal of volost land committees and district Soviets of peasant deputies until the Constituent Assembly ... The most just solution to the land question should be this: the right of private ownership of land is abolished forever; land may not be sold, bought, leased or pledged, or alienated in any other way. The whole land ... is turned into the property of the whole people and passes into the use of all those who work on it.

The first decree of the Soviet government. Artist A. I. Segal.

After the adoption of these decrees, it is not surprising that, having won in Petrograd, the revolution rapidly spread throughout the country. Power passed into the hands of the newly created Soviets. And passed without bloodshed. Only in 1918, a group of generals led by General Alekseev, the last chief of staff tsarist army, begins to form the Volunteer Army on the Don. And it is clear why the Cossacks had land on the Don. This is the only estate that was not interested in the decrees of the Soviet government. She didn't give them anything. And the Cossacks opposed it. And it became the backbone of Denikin's army.

All the counter-revolutionary activities of Kolchak, Denikin, Krasnov, Yudenich, Semyonov and other leaders of the White Movement were paid for by the governments of the USA, Germany, France, England and Japan.

Having met popular resistance, counting their losses, the interventionists decided to destroy the young Soviet Russia, plunging it into the Civil War.

And in 1917 Russian peasantry received land and peace,the return of the ancient veche democratic government - the Soviets.

According to modern history There were three revolutions in tsarist Russia.

Revolution of 1905

Date: January 1905 - June 1907. The impetus for the revolutionary actions of the people was the shooting of a peaceful demonstration (January 22, 1905), in which workers, their wives and children took part, led by a priest, whom many historians later called a provocateur who deliberately led the crowd under rifles.

The result of the first Russian revolution was the Manifesto adopted on October 17, 1905, which provided Russian subjects civil liberties based on the inviolability of the individual. But this manifesto did not solve the main issue - hunger and industrial crisis in the country, so the tension continued to accumulate and was later discharged by the second revolution. But the first answer to the question: "When was the revolution in Russia?" will be - 1905.

February bourgeois-democratic revolution of 1917

Date: February 1917 Hunger, a political crisis, a protracted war, dissatisfaction with the tsar's policies, fermentation of revolutionary sentiments in the large Petrograd garrison - these factors and many others led to the aggravation of the situation in the country. The general strike of workers on February 27, 1917 in Petrograd grew into spontaneous riots. As a result, the main government buildings and the main structures of the city were captured. Most of the troops went over to the side of the strikers. The tsarist government was unable to cope with the revolutionary situation. Troops called in from the front were unable to enter the city. The result of the second revolution was the overthrow of the monarchy, and the establishment of the Provisional Government, which included representatives of the bourgeoisie and large landowners. But along with this, the Petrograd Soviet was formed as another body of power. This led to dual power, which had a bad effect on the establishment of order by the Provisional Government in a country exhausted by a protracted war.

October Revolution of 1917

Date: October 25-26, old style. The protracted First World War continues, Russian troops retreat and suffer defeat. Hunger in the country does not stop. The majority of people live in poverty. Numerous rallies are held at factories, factories and in front of military units stationed in Petrograd. Most of the military, workers and the entire crew of the cruiser "Aurora" took the side of the Bolsheviks. The Military Revolutionary Committee announces an armed uprising. October 25, 1917 There was a Bolshevik coup led by Vladimir Lenin - the Provisional Government was overthrown. The first Soviet government was formed, later in 1918 peace was signed with Germany already tired of the war ( Brest Peace) and the construction of the USSR began.

Thus, we get that the question "When was the revolution in Russia?" You can briefly answer this way: only three times - once in 1905 and twice in 1917.

The February Revolution of 1917 in Russia is still called the Bourgeois-Democratic Revolution. It is the second revolution in a row (the first took place in 1905, the third in October 1917). The February Revolution began a great turmoil in Russia, during which not only the Romanov dynasty fell and the Empire ceased to be a monarchy, but also the entire bourgeois-capitalist system, as a result of which the elite was completely replaced in Russia

Causes of the February Revolution

• The unfortunate participation of Russia in the First World War, accompanied by defeats on the fronts, the disorganization of life in the rear
• The inability of Emperor Nicholas II to rule Russia, which degenerated into unsuccessful appointments of ministers and military leaders
• Corruption at all levels of government
• Economic difficulties
• Ideological decomposition of the masses, who ceased to believe in the king, and the church, and local leaders
• Dissatisfaction with the policy of the tsar by representatives of the big bourgeoisie and even his closest relatives

“... For several days we have been living on a volcano ... There was no bread in Petrograd, - transport was very disordered due to unusual snows, frosts and, most importantly, of course, because of the tension of the war ... There were street riots ... But it was, of course, not in bread... That was the last straw... The fact was that in this whole huge city it was impossible to find several hundred people who would sympathize with the authorities... And not even that... The point is that the authorities did not sympathize with themselves... There was no , in fact, not a single minister who would believe in himself and in what he is doing ... The class of former rulers came to naught .. "
(Vas. Shulgin "Days")

The course of the February Revolution

• February 21 - Bread riots in Petrograd. Crowds smashed bakery shops
• February 23 - the beginning of the general strike of the workers of Petrograd. Mass demonstrations with the slogans "Down with the war!", "Down with the autocracy!", "Bread!"
• February 24 - More than 200 thousand workers of 214 enterprises went on strike, students
• February 25 - Already 305 thousand people were on strike, 421 factories were standing. Employees and artisans joined the workers. The troops refused to disperse the protesters
• February 26 - Continued riots. Decomposition in the troops. The inability of the police to restore calm. Nicholas II
  postponed the start of meetings of the State Duma from February 26 to April 1, which was perceived as its dissolution
• February 27 - armed uprising. The reserve battalions of Volynsky, Lithuanian, Preobrazhensky refused to obey the commanders and joined the people. In the afternoon, the Semyonovsky regiment, the Izmailovsky regiment, and the reserve armored division revolted. The Kronverk Arsenal, the Arsenal, the Main Post Office, the telegraph office, railway stations, and bridges were occupied. The State Duma
  appointed a Provisional Committee "to restore order in St. Petersburg and to communicate with institutions and persons."
• On February 28, at night, the Provisional Committee announced that it was taking power into its own hands.
• On February 28, the 180th rebelled infantry regiment, Finnish regiment, sailors of the 2nd Baltic naval crew and the cruiser Aurora. The insurgent people occupied all the stations of Petrograd
• March 1 - Kronstadt and Moscow revolted, the tsar's close associates offered him either the introduction of loyal army units into Petrograd, or the creation of the so-called "responsible ministries" - a government subordinate to the Duma, which meant turning the Emperor into an "English queen".
• March 2, night - Nicholas II signed a manifesto on the granting of a responsible ministry, but it was too late. The public demanded renunciation.

"The Chief of Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief," General Alekseev, requested by telegram all the commanders-in-chief of the fronts. These telegrams asked the commanders-in-chief for their opinion on the desirability under the given circumstances of the abdication of the emperor from the throne in favor of his son. By one in the afternoon on March 2, all the answers of the commanders-in-chief were received and concentrated in the hands of General Ruzsky. These answers were:
1) From Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich - Commander-in-Chief of the Caucasian Front.
2) From General Sakharov - the actual commander-in-chief of the Romanian front (the actual commander-in-chief was the king of Romania, and Sakharov was his chief of staff).
3) From General Brusilov - Commander-in-Chief of the Southwestern Front.
4) From General Evert - Commander-in-Chief of the Western Front.
5) From Ruzsky himself - the commander-in-chief of the Northern Front. All five commanders-in-chief of the fronts and General Alekseev (gen. Alekseev was the chief of staff under the Sovereign) spoke in favor of the abdication of the Sovereign Emperor from the throne. (Vas. Shulgin "Days")

• On March 2, at about 3 p.m., Tsar Nicholas II decided to abdicate in favor of his heir, Tsarevich Alexei, under the regency of the younger brother of Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich. During the day, the king decided to abdicate also for the heir.
• March 4 - The Manifesto on the abdication of Nicholas II and the Manifesto on the abdication of Mikhail Alexandrovich were published in the newspapers.

“The man rushed to us - Darlings! - He shouted and grabbed my hand - Did you hear? There is no king! Only Russia remained.
He kissed everyone warmly and rushed to run on, sobbing and muttering something ... It was already one in the morning when Efremov usually slept soundly.
Suddenly, at this inopportune hour, there was a booming and short strike of the cathedral bell. Then the second blow, the third.
The blows became more frequent, a tight ringing was already floating over the town, and soon the bells of all the surrounding churches joined it.
Lights were lit in all the houses. The streets were filled with people. Doors in many houses stood wide open. strangers crying, hugging each other. From the side of the station, a solemn and jubilant cry of steam locomotives flew (K. Paustovsky "Restless Youth")