By: Michael Cullen
Art Movement: Surrealism
The world is ever changing. With the changing of countries, mass movement of citizens and wars ranging across the globe, the world is different than the day before. With this change comes the change of ideas, thoughts, and lifestyles, each intertwining with each other. Russia at the beginning of the 20th century experienced this change. The ideals, thoughts, and lifestyles that had remained unchanged for centuries changed dramatically and produced what the world calls “the Russian Revolution.” The history of the Russian Revolution, World War I, the Revolution of February, and the Revolution of October, all contain similarities to the United States of America's fight to become independent from Great Britain in the 1700's. Therefore, Americans should care about the Russian revolution.
Before the revolution, Russia was controlled by Czar Nicholas II, “The Holy Protector of Russia” (Atchison). However, Nicholas II took his position from his father, Alexander III. Czar Alexander III is known as “Russia's last true autocrat” (Atchison). Alexander III earned his rule to the throne after his father and his first brother died. Alexander III throughout his reign built up Russia on the same basis that later was the source of the February Revolution (Atchison). The country was run as a full fledged monarchy with outright discrimination upon the citizens due to religion or beliefs.
When Nicholas II inherited the throne, the country was booming with the Industrial Revolution, and capitalism began to develop. Farmers from the countryside moved to the big cities filling jobs in big factories. It became the first time where more people lived in cities versus the countryside. With populations growing in major cities, it allowed the cumulation of ideas, cultures and lifestyles to mix into a multitude of fresh ideas. One of the ideas that started to come of importance was segregation and discrimination. The citizens believed that segregation and discrimination were not acceptable (Stites). This belief, however, was contradictory towards the Czar's view and with the second great force of the country, The Russian Orthodox Church. Another big issue of the time was a shortage in supplies. As the cities grew, they became overcrowded and supplies for the simple necessities of life including water and food became scarce. Most of Russia's supplies were being sent across the nation to help in a land war against the Japanese. The war took a toll on Russia's citizens everyday life. In a 1904 survey, they found that an average of sixteen people shared an apartment in Saint Petersburg (Pipes).
With these two issues affecting the everyday workers of the Russian Nation, the citizens demanded a democratically run government. The lower citizens on the social economic class, including the peasants and farmers, began throwing demonstrations and strikes to help their cause. One of the bigger demonstrations which included the bringing of a petition of changes to the Czar turned out deadly (Trotsky vii). Known as the “Bloody Sunday” or the “Sunday Massacre,” the demonstration was organized by Georgy Apollonovich Gaponto to send the demands of the people to the Czar. As the crowed of 200,000 protesters marched towards the Czar's winter palace, the Russian Imperial Army opened fire upon the protesters, killing and wounding hundreds of citizens. Strikes, riots, and demonstrations crippling the country occurred in response to the bloody massacre (Pipes).
To quiet down his people, Czar Nicholas II enacted a bill called the October Manifesto. The October Manifesto established a democratically elected parliament and granted civil liberties to the people including personal immunity, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly. In historic terms, the October Manifesto became Russia's first constitution, later known as the “Fundamental Laws.” However, Czar Nicholas II left one clever clause in the constitution: article four states that: "The supreme autocratic power is vested in the Emperor of all the Russias. It is God's command that his authority should be obeyed not only through fear but for conscience's sake" (Royal). Also article nine also stated that: "The Sovereign Emperor approves the laws, and without his approval, no law can come into existence" (Royal). With Nicolas as the sole ruler, he could continue to reign through aristocracy while giving the public the democracy they demanded. However, the citizens realized Nicolas II's supreme rule, and this increased their fueled demonstrations. The revolution continued and gained momentum throughout the following years (Pipes).
At the southern borders of Russia, World War I began in 1914 with a war between Austria and Hungry. With his neighbors fighting to the South, Nicholas II was reluctant to enter another war after losing recently to the Japanese in their land war. However, he viewed the war as an opportunity to unite his nation. Nicholas believed that the war would foster a greater sense of national unity against a common enemy. He also hoped that it would move the social issues of the people concerning poverty, inequality, and inhuman working conditions to the side. His thoughts seemed to come true as the country began to unite as Russia began their attacks on neighboring Germany. Once the war began to drag on and on, the thoughts of killing a common enemy did not induce thoughts of compassion upon the Russian Czar and his government.
From the very first battle against the German forces, Russia began to steadily retreat and lose ground. After a year of fighting, the German forces began to deliver massive losses to Russia's eastern borders and began advancing into Russia soil.
As the battles were being waged on the battlefields, the social unrest continued to grow in the major cities. At the beginning of 1917, the county and government were crumbling. The military was losing its confidence in the Czar's military strategy and the generals began to dismiss his orders to attack. Supplies became so limited that the soldiers were being sent into battle without bearing arms. In Petrograd (St. Petersburg), conditions similar to those that existed in the revolution of 1905 surfaced once more. On February 24, 1917, 200,000 workers striked at the local factories. The following day the entire city striked and demanded reform. Similar to “Bloody Sunday,” military shootings occurred to the demonstrators. However, this time, the general public did not back down. On February 26 1917, the national democracy that the “October Manifesto” created was dismissed by Czar Nicholas II (Fitzpatrick 40).
As the outraged citizens covered the public streets and squares, the national army believed they didn't have any means to suppress the Revolution. As the leader of the Army, Czar Nicholas II finally left his position of power to his brother, Michael, who immediately declined. Michael believed that the government should be run in a democratic fashion. This belief led to the creation of the Russian Provisional Government which took over the power of the government. The Russian Provisional Government was not the only group which wanted to control the country, many parties including a party named “The Soviets”, supported by the working class and led by the nation's radical reformist and left wing; also wanted to take control.
A time of dual power existed between the two political groups after the February Revolution. This dual power, however, created a weak government and created chaos in the nation. During this time, the Provisional Government had control over the state and public services, but The Soviets had the support of the working population. Another conflict occurred because both parties had different views on their current war with Germany. The Provisional Government wanted to continue the war while The Soviets wanted to abandon the war entirely. The Soviet party was also known at this time as the Bolsheviks Party (Stites 42). As time progressed, the Bolsheviks began to gain support from the nation's military elite, and they began to form military militias to overthrow the Provisional Government. This growth of support was lead by the Bolsheviks leader, Vladimir Lenin (Stites 43).
Vladimir Lenin was exiled by former Czar Nicholas II for his radical ideas and attempts on reform. Forced to leave the country, Lenin was living in Switzerland by the time the February Revolution occurred (Read 142-143). Lenin, before his exile, was a lawyer who turned politician once he moved to Petrograd. Throughout his exile, he taught in Universities such as Geneva University in Switzerland. His main agenda was to reform Russia into a socialistic government. Vladimir Lenin returned to Russia, soon after the February massacre, grasping this opportunity to lead the communist party with his socialistic ideals (Stites 43).
Tension grew in Petrograd throughout the summer until the strikes and demonstrations grew wild into the streets. Vladimir Lenin realized that it was the time for his form of government to reign. He and his party drafted a resolution calling for the dissolving of the Provisional Government and the replacement of the government by the Petrograd Soviet. This bill was overwhelmingly supported by the people and the government had to pass it. The October Revolution had begun (Fitzpatrick 40).
The October Revolution encompassed the falling of the temporary government set up by Petrograd, and for the first time, communism was introduced into Russia. The disputes and lack of organization in the country's government led to a national civil war. The Petrograd Soviets (the Bolsheviks party later known at the Red Army for their communistic ideals), against the Provisional Government (later known as the White Army.) This war lasted from 1919 to 1921 with the Red Army eventually toppling the White Army, and the Red Army taking control over the country (Fitzpatrick 40).
American people should care about the Russian Revolution with key elements including similarities of Russian and American history and the effects of the country's citizens actions. The creation of a Democratic Government which created America was fought by a revolution much like the Russians. The Febuary Revolution of 1917, could be compared to the Boston Tea Party in 1773. When the people of America rebelled against the King of England there are similarities to the people of Russia rebelling against the all powerful Czar. The effects of the country's citizens actions show directly in both nations today. Actions taken by the citizens of both nations directly correlate with the modern day societies. Both governments contain a president who is voted for by the people of the nation. The similarities in the two nations should make American citizens care about the Russian Revolution.
The Russian Revolution is the key to the understanding of the power bestowed in people and the everyday desicions of Russia. The Russian Revolution is the revolution of a country's people standing for thier beliefs. The everyday American citizen has a large amount power in our country's government. With the right to vote and to stand up for people's beliefs, Americans are similar to the Russian citizens. The Russian Revolution proves that Americans too can make a difference. Understanding our power in society and Russian history, Americans can relate to the people of Russia and how they were able to create change in thier country. Understanding the power in everyday Americans helps Americans relate to Russia's everyday lifestyle.
American's should care about the Russian Revoluton. The history of the Russian Revolution, World War I, the Revolution of February, and the Revolution of October, closely correlate to the building of the United States of America. In the Russian Revolution, ideals, thoughts, and lifestyles changed forever. History’s correlations are important to the lifestyles that people live in their everyday lives. The world is ever changing, however, by understanding the similarities are what remain constant, people can better understand their future. The Russian Revolution changed a nation and was influential of the path in history of the American people.
Works Cited
Atchison, Bob. Biographies - Alexander III. 2008. 15 October 2008
Fitzpatrick, Sheila. The Russian Revolution. Oxford University Press, 2001.
Pipes, Richard. The Russian Revolution. Collins Harvill, 1990.
Read, Christopher. Lenin: A Revolutionary Life. New York: Routledge, 2005.
Stites, Richard. Revolutionary Dreams: Utopian Vision and Experimental Life in the Russian
Revolution. Oxford University Press US, 1989.
Royal Russia, ed. "The Russian Fundamental Laws of 1906." Royal Russia. Royal Russia. 15 Oct. 2008
