When did the revolution begin and end? How did the great October socialist revolution proceed?

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 citizens with civil liberties based on personal integrity. But this manifesto did not solve the main issue - hunger and industrial crisis in the country, so 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?” it will be 1905.

February bourgeois-democratic revolution of 1917

Date: February 1917 Hunger, political crisis, protracted war, dissatisfaction with the tsar's policies, fermentation of revolutionary sentiments in the large Petrograd garrison - these factors and many others led to a worsening of the situation in the country. The general strike of workers on February 27, 1917 in Petrograd developed into spontaneous riots. As a result, the main government buildings and 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. The troops called 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 a Provisional Government, which included representatives of the bourgeoisie and large landowners. But along with this, the Petrograd Council was formed as another government body. This led to dual power, which had a negative impact on the establishment of order by the Provisional Government in the country exhausted by the protracted war.

October Revolution of 1917

Date: October 25-26, old style. The protracted First continues World War, Russian troops retreat and suffer defeat. Hunger in the country does not stop. The majority of people live in poverty. Numerous rallies are taking place at plants, factories and in front of military units stationed in Petrograd. The majority 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-Litovsk Peace), and the construction of the USSR began.

Thus, it turns out that the question “When was the revolution in Russia?” You can briefly answer this: only three times - once in 1905 and twice in 1917.

The Great Russian Revolution is the revolutionary events that occurred in Russia in 1917, starting with the overthrow of the monarchy during the February Revolution, when power passed to the Provisional Government, which was overthrown as a result of the October Revolution of the Bolsheviks, who proclaimed Soviet power.

February Revolution of 1917 - Main revolutionary events in Petrograd

Reason for the revolution: Labor conflict at the Putilov plant between workers and owners; interruptions in the food supply to Petrograd.

Main events February Revolution took place in Petrograd. The army leadership, led by the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, General M.V. Alekseev, and the commanders of the fronts and fleets, considered that they did not have the means to suppress the riots and strikes that had engulfed Petrograd. Emperor Nicholas II abdicated the throne. After his intended successor, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich also abdicated the throne, the State Duma took control of the country, forming the Provisional Government of Russia.

With the formation of Soviets parallel to the Provisional Government, a period of dual power began. The Bolsheviks formed detachments of armed workers (Red Guard), thanks to attractive slogans they gained significant popularity, primarily in Petrograd, Moscow, in large industrial cities, the Baltic Fleet, and the troops of the Northern and Western Fronts.

Results of the revolution and dual power

October Revolution of 1917 main events

During October revolution Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee, established by the Bolsheviks led by L.D. Trotsky and V.I. Lenin, overthrew the Provisional Government. At the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, the Bolsheviks withstood a difficult struggle with the Mensheviks and right-wing Socialist Revolutionaries, and the first Soviet government was formed. In December 1917, a government coalition of Bolsheviks and Left Socialist Revolutionaries was formed. In March 1918, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed with Germany.

By the summer of 1918, a one-party government was finally formed, and the active phase of the Civil War and foreign intervention in Russia began, which began with the uprising of the Czechoslovak Corps. The end of the Civil War created the conditions for the formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

Provisional Government of Russia in 1917

Heads of the Russian government in 1905 - 1917.

Reasons for the October Revolution of 1917:

war fatigue;

industry and Agriculture countries were on the verge of complete collapse;

catastrophic financial crisis;

unresolvedness agrarian question and the impoverishment of the peasants;

delaying socio-economic reforms;

the contradictions of dual power became a prerequisite for a change of power.

On July 3, 1917, unrest began in Petrograd demanding the overthrow of the Provisional Government. Counter-revolutionary units, by order of the government, used weapons to suppress the peaceful demonstration. Arrests began and the death penalty was reinstated.

The dual power ended in the victory of the bourgeoisie. The events of July 3-5 showed that the bourgeois Provisional Government did not intend to fulfill the demands of the working people, and it became clear to the Bolsheviks that it was no longer possible to take power peacefully.

At the VI Congress of the RSDLP(b), which took place from July 26 to August 3, 1917, the party set its sights on a socialist revolution through an armed uprising.

At the August State Conference in Moscow, the bourgeoisie intended to declare L.G. Kornilov as a military dictator and to coincide with this event the dispersal of the Soviets. But active revolutionary action thwarted the plans of the bourgeoisie. Then Kornilov moved troops to Petrograd on August 23.

The Bolsheviks, carrying out extensive agitation work among the working masses and soldiers, explained the meaning of the conspiracy and created revolutionary centers to fight the Kornilov revolt. The rebellion was suppressed, and the people finally realized that the Bolshevik Party is the only party that defends the interests of the working people.

In mid-September V.I. Lenin developed a plan for an armed uprising and ways to implement it. The main goal of the October Revolution was the conquest of power by the Soviets.

On October 12, the Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC) was created - a center for preparing an armed uprising. Zinoviev and Kamenev, opponents of the socialist revolution, gave the terms of the uprising to the Provisional Government.

The uprising began on the night of October 24, the opening day of the Second Congress of Soviets. The government was immediately isolated from the armed units loyal to it.

October 25 V.I. Lenin arrived in Smolny and personally led the uprising in Petrograd. During the October Revolution, important objects such as bridges, telegraphs, and government offices were captured.

On the morning of October 25, 1917, the Military Revolutionary Committee announced the overthrow of the Provisional Government and the transfer of power to the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. On October 26, the Winter Palace was captured and members of the Provisional Government were arrested.

The October Revolution in Russia took place with the full support of the people. The alliance of the working class and the peasantry, the transition of the armed army to the side of the revolution, and the weakness of the bourgeoisie determined the results of the October Revolution of 1917.

On October 25 and 26, 1917, the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets was held, at which the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (VTsIK) was elected and the first Soviet government was formed - the Council of People's Commissars (SNK). V.I. was elected Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars. Lenin. He put forward two Decrees: the “Decree on Peace,” which called on the warring countries to stop hostilities, and the “Decree on Land,” which expressed the interests of the peasants.

The adopted Decrees contributed to the victory of Soviet power in the regions of the country.

On November 3, 1917, with the capture of the Kremlin, Soviet power won in Moscow. Further, Soviet power was proclaimed in Belarus, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Crimea, the North Caucasus, Central Asia. The revolutionary struggle in Transcaucasia dragged on until the end of the civil war (1920-1921), which was a consequence of the October Revolution of 1917.

The Great October Socialist Revolution divided the world into two camps - capitalist and socialist.

To understand when there was a revolution in Russia, it is necessary to look back at the era. It was under the last emperor from the Romanov dynasty that the country was shaken by several social crises that caused the people to rebel against the authorities. Historians distinguish the revolution of 1905-1907, the February Revolution and the October Revolution.

Prerequisites for revolutions

Until 1905, the Russian Empire lived according to the laws absolute monarchy. The Tsar was the sole autocrat. The adoption of important government decisions depended only on him. In the 19th century, such a conservative order of things did not suit a very small stratum of society consisting of intellectuals and marginalized people. These people were oriented toward the West, where they had long been illustrative example the Great happened French revolution. She destroyed the power of the Bourbons and gave the inhabitants of the country civil liberties.

Even before the first revolutions took place in Russia, society learned about what political terror is. Radical supporters of change took up arms and carried out assassinations on senior government officials in order to force the authorities to pay attention to their demands.

Tsar Alexander II ascended the throne during Crimean War, which Russia lost due to its systematic economic lag behind the West. The bitter defeat forced the young monarch to begin reforms. The main one was the abolition of serfdom in 1861. This was followed by zemstvo, judicial, administrative and other reforms.

However, radicals and terrorists were still unhappy. Many of them demanded a constitutional monarchy or the abolition of royal power altogether. The Narodnaya Volya carried out a dozen attempts on the life of Alexander II. In 1881 he was killed. Under his son, Alexander III, a reactionary campaign was launched. Terrorists and political activists were subjected to severe repression. This calmed the situation for a short time. But the first revolutions in Russia were still just around the corner.

Mistakes of Nicholas II

Alexander III died in 1894 at his Crimean residence, where he was recovering his failing health. The monarch was relatively young (he was only 49 years old), and his death came as a complete surprise to the country. Russia froze in anticipation. The eldest son was on the throne Alexandra III, Nicholas II. His reign (when there was a revolution in Russia) was marred from the very beginning by unpleasant events.

Firstly, at one of his first public appearances, the tsar declared that the progressive public’s desire for change was “meaningless dreams.” For this phrase, Nikolai was criticized by all his opponents - from liberals to socialists. The monarch even got it from the great writer Leo Tolstoy. The count ridiculed the emperor's absurd statement in his article, written under the impression of what he heard.

Secondly, during the coronation ceremony of Nicholas II in Moscow, an accident occurred. City authorities organized festive event for peasants and poor people. They were promised free “gifts” from the king. So thousands of people ended up on the Khodynka field. At some point, a stampede began, due to which hundreds of passers-by died. Later, when there was a revolution in Russia, many called these events symbolic hints of a future great disaster.

Russian revolutions also had objective reasons. What were they? In 1904, Nicholas II became involved in the war against Japan. The conflict erupted due to the influence of the two rival powers on Far East. Inept preparation, stretched communications, and a cavalier attitude towards the enemy - all this became the reason for the defeat of the Russian army in that war. In 1905, a peace treaty was signed. Russia gave Japan the southern part of Sakhalin Island, as well as lease rights to the strategically important South Manchurian railway.

At the beginning of the war, there was a surge of patriotism and hostility towards new national enemies in the country. Now, after the defeat, the revolution of 1905-1907 broke out with unprecedented force. in Russia. People wanted fundamental changes in the life of the state. Discontent was especially felt among workers and peasants, whose standard of living was extremely low.

Bloody Sunday

The main reason for the outbreak of civil confrontation was the tragic events in St. Petersburg. On January 22, 1905, a delegation of workers went to the Winter Palace with a petition to the Tsar. The proletarians asked the monarch to improve their working conditions, increase salaries, etc. Political demands were also made, the main one of which was the convening of a Constituent Assembly - a people's representative body on the Western parliamentary model.

The police dispersed the procession. Was applied firearms. By different estimates, between 140 and 200 people died. The tragedy became known as Bloody Sunday. When the event became known throughout the country, mass strikes began in Russia. The discontent of the workers was fueled by professional revolutionaries and agitators of left-wing convictions, who had previously carried out only underground work. The liberal opposition also became more active.

First Russian Revolution

Strikes and walkouts varied in intensity depending on the region of the empire. Revolution 1905-1907 in Russia it raged especially strongly on the national outskirts of the state. For example, Polish socialists managed to convince about 400 thousand workers in the Kingdom of Poland not to go to work. Similar unrest took place in the Baltic states and Georgia.

Radical political parties(Bolsheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries) decided that this was their last chance to seize power in the country with the help of an uprising of the popular masses. The agitators manipulated not only peasants and workers, but also ordinary soldiers. Thus began armed uprisings in the army. The most famous episode in this series is the mutiny on the battleship Potemkin.

In October 1905, the united St. Petersburg Council of Workers' Deputies began its work, which coordinated the actions of strikers throughout the capital of the empire. The events of the revolution took on their most violent character in December. This led to battles in Presnya and other areas of the city.

Manifesto October 17

In the fall of 1905, Nicholas II realized that he had lost control of the situation. He could, with the help of the army, suppress numerous uprisings, but this would not help get rid of the deep contradictions between the government and society. The monarch began to discuss with those close to him measures to reach a compromise with the dissatisfied.

The result of his decision was the Manifesto of October 17, 1905. The development of the document was entrusted to the famous official and diplomat Sergei Witte. Before that, he went to sign peace with the Japanese. Now Witte needed to as soon as possible have time to help your king. The situation was complicated by the fact that in October two million people were already on strike. Strikes covered almost all industrial sectors. Railway transport was paralyzed.

The October 17 Manifesto made several fundamental changes to political system Russian Empire. Nicholas II previously held sole power. Now he has transferred part of his legislative powers to a new body - State Duma. It was to be elected by popular vote and become a real representative body of government.

Such social principles as freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom of assembly, and personal integrity were also established. These changes became an important part of the basic state laws of the Russian Empire. This is how the first national constitution actually appeared.

Between revolutions

The publication of the Manifesto in 1905 (when there was a revolution in Russia) helped the authorities take control of the situation. Most of the rebels calmed down. A temporary compromise was reached. The echo of the revolution could still be heard in 1906, but now it was easier for the state repressive apparatus to cope with its most irreconcilable opponents, who refused to lay down their arms.

The so-called inter-revolutionary period began, when in 1906-1917. Russia was a constitutional monarchy. Now Nicholas had to take into account the opinion of the State Duma, which might not accept his laws. The last Russian monarch was a conservative by nature. He did not believe in liberal ideas and believed that his sole power was given to him by God. Nikolai made concessions only because he no longer had a choice.

The first two convocations of the State Duma never fulfilled the period assigned to them by law. A natural period of reaction began, when the monarchy took revenge. At this time, Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin became the main associate of Nicholas II. His government could not reach an agreement with the Duma on some key political issues. Because of this conflict, on June 3, 1907, Nicholas II dissolved the representative assembly and made changes to the electoral system. The III and IV convocations were already less radical in their composition than the first two. A dialogue began between the Duma and the government.

World War I

The main reasons for the revolution in Russia were the sole power of the monarch, which prevented the country from developing. When the principle of autocracy became a thing of the past, the situation stabilized. Economic growth began. Agrarian helped peasants create their own small private farms. A new social class has emerged. The country developed and grew rich before our eyes.

So why did subsequent revolutions take place in Russia? In short, Nicholas made a mistake by getting involved in the First World War in 1914. Several million men were mobilized. As with the Japanese campaign, the country initially experienced a patriotic upsurge. As the bloodshed dragged on and reports of defeats began to arrive from the front, society became worried again. No one could say for sure how long the war would drag on. The revolution in Russia was approaching again.

February Revolution

In historiography there is the term “Great Russian Revolution”. Usually, this generalized name refers to the events of 1917, when two coups d’etat took place in the country at once. The First World War hit the country's economy hard. The impoverishment of the population continued. In the winter of 1917, mass demonstrations of workers and citizens dissatisfied with high bread prices began in Petrograd (renamed due to anti-German sentiments).

This is what happened February Revolution in Russia. Events developed rapidly. Nicholas II at this time was at Headquarters in Mogilev, not far from the front. The Tsar, having learned about the unrest in the capital, took the train to return to Tsarskoe Selo. However, he was late. In Petrograd, a dissatisfied army went over to the side of the rebels. The city came under rebel control. On March 2, delegates went to the king and persuaded him to sign his abdication of the throne. Thus, the February Revolution in Russia left the monarchical system in the past.

Troubled 1917

After the revolution had begun, a Provisional Government was formed in Petrograd. It included politicians previously known from the State Duma. These were mostly liberals or moderate socialists. Alexander Kerensky became the head of the Provisional Government.

Anarchy in the country allowed other radical political forces like the Bolsheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries to become more active. A struggle for power began. Formally, the Provisional Government was supposed to last until the convening of the Constituent Assembly, when the country could decide how to live further by popular vote. However, the First World War was still going on, and the ministers did not want to refuse assistance to their Entente allies. This led to a sharp drop in the popularity of the Provisional Government in the army, as well as among workers and peasants.

In August 1917, General Lavr Kornilov tried to organize a coup d'etat. He also opposed the Bolsheviks, considering them a radical leftist threat to Russia. The army was already heading towards Petrograd. At this point, the Provisional Government and Lenin's supporters briefly united. Bolshevik agitators destroyed Kornilov's army from within. The mutiny failed. The provisional government survived, but not for long.

Bolshevik coup

Of all domestic revolutions, the Great October Socialist Revolution is the most famous. This is due to the fact that its date - November 7 (new style) - was a public holiday on the territory of the former Russian Empire for more than 70 years.

The next coup was led by Vladimir Lenin and the leaders of the Bolshevik Party enlisted the support of the Petrograd garrison. On October 25, according to the old style, armed groups that supported the communists captured key communication points in Petrograd - the telegraph, post office, and railway. The provisional government found itself isolated in the Winter Palace. After a short assault on the former royal residence, the ministers were arrested. The signal for the start of the decisive operation was a blank shot fired on the cruiser Aurora. Kerensky was out of town and later managed to emigrate from Russia.

On the morning of October 26, the Bolsheviks were already masters of Petrograd. Soon the first decrees of the new government appeared - the Decree on Peace and the Decree on Land. The Provisional Government was unpopular precisely because of its desire to continue the war with Kaiser Germany, while Russian army I was tired of fighting and demoralized.

The simple and understandable slogans of the Bolsheviks were popular among the people. The peasants finally waited for the destruction of the nobility and the deprivation of their land property. The soldiers learned that the imperialist war was over. True, in Russia itself it was far from peace. Started Civil War. The Bolsheviks had to fight for another 4 years against their opponents (whites) throughout the country to establish control over the territory of the former Russian Empire. In 1922, the USSR was formed. The Great October Socialist Revolution was the event that heralded new era in the history of not only Russia, but the whole world.

For the first time in the then history state power turned out to be radical communists. October 1917 surprised and frightened Western bourgeois society. The Bolsheviks hoped that Russia would become a springboard for the start of the world revolution and the destruction of capitalism. This did not happen.

The Great October Socialist Revolution took place on October 25-26, 1917 (November 7-8, new style). This is one of the greatest events in the history of Russia, as a result of which occurred dramatic changes in the position of all classes of society.

The October Revolution began as a result of a number of facts:

• in 1914-1918 Russia was involved in the war, the situation at the front was not the best, there was no intelligent leader, the army suffered heavy losses. In industry, the growth of military products prevailed over consumer products, which led to rising prices and caused discontent among the masses. The soldiers and peasants wanted peace, and the bourgeoisie, who profited from the supply of military supplies, longed for the continuation of hostilities;
• national conflicts;
• the intensity of the class struggle. The peasants, who for centuries had dreamed of getting rid of the oppression of the landowners and kulaks and taking possession of the land, were ready for decisive action;
• the decline in the authority of the Provisional Government, which was unable to solve the problems of society;
• The Bolsheviks had a strong, authoritative leader, V.I. Lenin, who promised the people to solve all social problems;
• the prevalence of socialist ideas in society.

The Bolshevik Party achieved enormous influence on the masses. In October there were already 400 thousand people on their side. On October 16, 1917, the Military Revolutionary Committee was created, which began preparations for an armed uprising. During the revolution on October 25, 1917, all key points in the city were occupied by the Bolsheviks under the leadership of V.I. Lenin. They captured the Winter Palace and arrested the Provisional Government.

On the evening of October 25, at the 2nd All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, it was announced that power would transfer to the 2nd Congress of Soviets, and locally - to the Councils of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies.

On October 26, decrees on peace and land were adopted. At the congress, the Soviet government was formed, called the Council people's commissars, which included Lenin (chairman), L.D. Trotsky (People's Commissar for foreign affairs), I.V. Stalin (People's Commissar for National Affairs). The Declaration of the Rights of the Peoples of Russia was introduced, which stated that all people have equal rights to freedom and development, no more nation masters and nations of the oppressed.

As a result of the October Revolution, the Bolsheviks won, and the dictatorship of the proletariat was established. Class society was abolished, the land of the landowners was transferred into the hands of the peasants, and industrial structures: factories, factories, mines - into the hands of the workers.

As a result of the October coup, millions of people died, many emigrated to other countries. The Great October Revolution influenced the subsequent course of events in world history.