428 History
Revolutionary Russia
By the 1890s, many European nations were bringing in
democratic reforms, but not Russia. Angry about social
injustice, many Russians looked to socialism,
anarchism, or. COMMUNISM for an answer.
COMMUNISM
Communists around the world were inspired by the writings of
Karl Marx (1818–1883). Marx believed history was driven by
economic forces and that a just and progressive society could only
be created if the workers took control of the economic system.WHO OVERTHREW THE TSAR?
In March 1917, strikes, mutinies, and protests brought
Russia to a standstill. Russian troops fighting in World
War I deserted the Eastern Front. The tsar was forced
from power and Russia became a republic. This
became known as the February Revolution (as Russia
followed a different calendar to Western countries).WHEN WAS BLOODY SUNDAY IN ST PETERSBURG?
In 1905, troops in St Petersburg gunned down workers
who wished to present a petition to the tsar. This
action resulted in strikes, mutinies, and uprisings all
over Russia. As a result, a Duma, or parliament, was
set up. However, the reforms it demanded were
rejected by the tsar.WHEN WAS THE OCTOBER REVOLUTION?
The republican Duma failed to bring the chaos in
Russia under control. A communist group known as
the “Bolsheviks” rejected attempts at liberal reform.
They appealed directly to workers to rise up in a
communist revolution. The Bolsheviks seized power in
“October” (that is, November) 1917.WHEN WAS THE SOVIET UNION FOUNDED?
From 1918 to 1920 civil war raged through Russia as
the communist Red Army fought opponents of the
revolution (“the Whites”). The communists won and a
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (“Soviet Union”)
was founded in 1922. Only the Communist Party held
power. Most industries came under state ownership
and the economy was centrally controlled.WHO WAS STALIN?
Lenin’s successor was Joseph Stalin (1879–1953). His
secret police murdered many of his opponents and
millions were sent to forced labour camps. Stalin was
criticized after his death, but the Soviet system failed
to reform and collapsed in 1991.1 TSAR NICHOLAS II AND HIS FAMILY
Nicholas II (1868–1918) came to the throne in 1895, but occupied
himself with family life and failed to deal with Russia’s growing
problems. After the October Revolution of 1917, he and his family
were imprisoned and then shot.4 MAY DAY, 1920
A poster for International
Workers’ Day (or May Day)
shows an idealized group of
revolutionaries. At this time
communist parties were being
founded in many countries.1 LENIN’S CALL
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870–1924)
returned from exile in 1917. He
called for power to be handed
over to Soviets (councils of
revolutionary workers). After the
October Revolution, he led the
governing Communist Party.FIND OUT MORE. Economy 302–303 • Politics 306–307
revolutionary
Russia