Russian Revolution, October Revolution (1917)

Question 1

What were the main events of the October Revolution?

Answer 1

1. The October Revolution occurred due to the conflict between the provisional government and the bolsheviks.
2. Lenin, the leader of the bolsheviks, feared that the provisional government would set up a dictatorship. In September he began discussions for an uprising against the government. Bolshevik supporters in the army, soviets, and factories were brought together
3. On 16th October 1917, Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviets and the Bolshevik Party to agree to a socialist seizure of power. A Military Revolutionary Committee was appointed by the Soviets under Leon Trotsky to organize the seizure. The date of the event was kept a secret.
4. The uprising began on 24th October. Military men loyal to the government under Kerensky seized the buildings of two Bolshevik newspapers. Pro-government troops were sent to take over the telephone and telegraph officers and protect the Winter Palace. In a swift response, the military revolutionary committee ordered its supporters to seize government offices and arrest ministers. Late in the day the ship, Aurora shelled the Winter Palace. Other vessels sailed down the Neva and took over various military points. By nightfall, the city was under the committee’s control and the ministers had surrendered
5. Uprising took place in other cities. There was heavy fighting– especially in Moscow– but by December, the Bolsheviks controlled the Moscow-Petrograd area.

Question 2

What were the effects of the October Revolution?

Answer 2

1. The October revolution marked the beginning of Lenin’s rule over the Soviets, with Bolsheviks under his guidance. The Bolshevik party was renamed the Russian Communist Party. Thus, the first communist regime was established in Russia
2. Most industries and banks were nationalized in November 1917. Lands were declared socialist property and peasants were allowed to seize the land of the nobility
3. In cities, Bolsheviks enforced the partition of large houses according to family requirements. They banned the use of old titles of aristocracy
4. In March 1918, the Bolsheviks made peace with Germany at Brest Litovsk. In the years that followed, the Bolsheviks became the only party to participate in the elections to the All Russian Congress of Soviets, which became the parliament of the country. Russia became a one-party state.