Feb&oct Rev 1917

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The Russia Revolution in February of 1917 started at the capital, St.Petersburg where there is serious shortage of food and fuel

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Woman who were fed up with the endless queues for food attacked the bakeries when bread run out and they then marched through the city shouting anti-government slogans

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Later workers joined them and within three days,250,000 people were on strike

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The King Of Russia, Tsar ordered the army to put down the revolt but the army decided to join the protesters

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The Duma was also won over and agreed to provide the strikers with leadership

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It organised a provisional (temporary) government to rule Russia

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Having lost control of his army and government, the Tsar abdicated on 14 February 1917 thus the Russian monarchy was ended

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With the new provisional government headed by prime minister Alexander Kenensky was confronted by many problem The whole of Russia was in chaos as there were severe shortages of foods and daily necessities The government was expected to solve these problem quickly demands of different groups Russia(in countryside peasant wanted land & in city workers want food and better job condition) The soldier wanted the war to end

Do You Think The New Government Be Able To Satisfy All These Groups???

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Was introduced for the first time in Russia Political prisoners were freed and exiled revolutionaries returned to Russia The press was also given freedom of expression, yet the freedom given resulted in open opposition The main challenge was from the Soviet, a rival group made up of soldiers and workers, originally formed to co-ordinatethe strikes Soviets were set up in Petrograd and other cities and became very powerful The provisional government needed their support to rule The support ended when the Bolsheviks, a powerful group in the Soviets, quarrelled with the Provisional Government

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One quarrel was over Russia’s involvement in World War I The Provisional government felt than the Russia had to honour her commitments to the Allies as they hope that a victory might win them more support But the war drain Russia resources and crucial problem were left unable to solve especially the need for land reforms The peasants had expected the government to help them with their own land but this did not happen and the peasant was very disappointed The peasant make up 80% of the population in Russia and this badly affected the Provisional Government

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Vladamir Ilyich Lenin, a revolutionary exiled by the Tsar abdicated He convinced the bolsheviks that another revolution was needed to turn Russia into communist state He quickly rose to become the leader of the bolsheviks Lenin understood the importance of peasant support and saw that many Russians were against the continuation of the war His appeal to the people of “Land,Peace,Bread” was simple and attractive He stressed the importance of peace and vowed to get Russia out of the war Lastly, he promised immediate land redistribution after seizing power and also to eliminate hunger in communist Russia thus won him many supporters

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In July 1917 the Bolsheviks tried to seize the power in Petrograd but the uprising was crushed by Alexander Kerensky and many Bolshevik leaders were arrested Lenin himself fled to Finland Later the leader of the Russia army, General Kornilov, attempted to overthrow Kerensky. To fight Kornilov, kerensky released the Bolsheviks and supply them with arms and defeated Konilov Afterwards the Bolsheviks retained the weapom they were given

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Popularity of Kerensky’s governemnt fell, Lenin planned to stage another revolution in Petergrad On 24 October 1917, Bolsheviks soldiers, the Red Guards, captured the railway stations and the telephone exchange in Petergrad The Winter Palace where the Provisional Government headquarters were shelled The government offered little opposition and the Bolsheviks seized power in a coup After week of fighting, the Bolsheviks controlled the city

After the Bolsheviks seized power, Lenin confidently allowed the elections promised by the Provisional Government to take place. Lenin was shock and refuse to hand over the power when he heard Social Revolutionaries won most of the seat. Lenin think Bolsheviks represented the proletariat, the vital group who determine Russia’s future so they should rule. Lenin dissolve the Assembly and banned further election

The Bolsheviks rename themselves the Communist Party and took steps to obtain absolute control Russia. Linen issued decrees or official orders, which were to be obeyed without question.

Question • Is Shortage of food the main reason of the February Revolution of 1917 in Russia? • What cause the October Revolution of 1917 in Russia