Who led the revolution of October 1917. Great October Socialist Revolution

Lenin proclaims Soviet power

Great October Socialist Revolution- the process of the revolutionary establishment of Soviet power on the territory of Russia from October 1917 to March 1918, as a result of which the bourgeois regime was overthrown and power was transferred.

The Great October Socialist Revolution was the result of internal conflicts that had been accumulating in Russian society since at least the middle of the 19th century, the revolutionary process they generated, which later grew into the First World War. Its victory in Russia provided the practical possibility of a global experiment to build in a single country. The revolution was global in nature, virtually completely changing the history of mankind in the twentieth century, and led to the formation on the political map of the world, which exists to this day and every day demonstrates to the whole world the advantages of the socialist system over.

Reasons and background

From mid-1916, a decline in industrial and agricultural production began in Russia. Representatives of the liberal-bourgeois opposition, entrenched in the Duma, zemstvos, city dumas, and military-industrial committees, insisted on the creation of a Duma and government that enjoyed the country’s confidence. Right-wing circles, on the contrary, called for the dissolution of the Duma. The Tsar, realizing the disastrous consequences of carrying out radical, political and other reforms during a war that required political stability, was, however, in no hurry to “tighten the screws.” He hoped that the success of the offensive against Germany by Entente troops from the east and west planned for the spring of 1917 would bring peace to minds. However, such hopes were no longer destined to come true.

February bourgeois-democratic revolution and the overthrow of the autocracy

On February 23, 1917, rallies, strikes, and demonstrations of workers began in Petrograd due to food difficulties. On February 26, the authorities tried to suppress popular protests by force of arms. This, in turn, caused disobedience in the reserve units of the Petrograd garrison, who did not want to be sent to the front, and an uprising of some of them on the morning of February 27. As a result, the rebel soldiers united with the striking workers. On the same day, the Temporary Committee of the State Duma was formed in the State Duma, headed by the Chairman of the Duma M.V. Rodzianko. On the night of February 27-28, the Committee announced that it had taken power “into its own hands to restore state and public order.” On the same day, the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' Deputies was created, calling on the people to the final overthrow of the old government. By the morning of February 28, the uprising in Petrograd was victorious.

On the night of March 1 to 2, by agreement of the Provisional Committee of the State Duma with the Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet, it was formed headed by the Chairman of the Main Committee of the All-Russian Zemstvo Union, Prince G. E. Lvov. The government included representatives of various bourgeois parties: the leader of the Cadets P. N. Milyukov, the leader of the Octobrists A. I. Guchkov and others, as well as the socialist A. F. Kerensky.

On the night of March 2, the Petrograd Soviet adopted order No. 1 for the Petrograd garrison, which spoke about the election of soldiers’ committees in units and divisions, the subordination of military units in all political speeches to the Council, and the transfer of weapons under the control of soldiers’ committees. Similar orders were established outside the Petrograd garrison, which undermined the combat effectiveness of the army.

On the evening of March 2, Emperor Nicholas II abdicated the throne. As a result, dual power arose in the country on the part of the bourgeois Provisional Government (“power without power”) and the Soviets of Workers’, Peasants’ and Soldiers’ Deputies (“force without power”).

Period of dual power

The union state was formed on the basis of the Ukrainian and Belarusian SSRs. Over time, the number of union republics reached 15.

Third (Communist) International

Almost immediately after the proclamation of Soviet power in Russia, the leadership of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) took the initiative to form a new international with the goal of uniting and uniting the working class of the planet.

In January 1918, a meeting of representatives of left-wing groups in a number of countries in Europe and America was held in Petrograd. And on March 2, 1919, the First Constituent Congress of the Communist International began its work in Moscow.

The Comintern set itself the task of supporting the labor movement around the world with the goal of implementing a world revolution that would finally replace the world capitalist economy with the world system of communism.

Largely thanks to the activities of the Communist International, communist parties were formed in many countries of Europe, Asia and America, which ultimately led to their victory in China, Mongolia, Korea and Vietnam and the establishment of a socialist system in them.

Thus, the Great October Revolution, which created the first socialist state, marked the beginning of the collapse of the capitalist system in many countries of the world.

Williams A.R. About Lenin and the October Revolution. - M.: Gospolitizdat, 1960. - 297 p.
Reed J. 10 days that shocked the world. - M.: Gospolitizdat, 1958. - 352 p.
Chronicle of the Great October Socialist Revolution / Ed. A. M. Pankratova and G. D. Kostomarov. - M.: Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1942. - 152 p.

Research

Alekseeva G.D. Criticism of the Socialist Revolutionary Concept of the October Revolution. - M.: Nauka, 1989. - 321 p.
Igritsky Yu. I. Myths of bourgeois historiography and the reality of history. Modern American and English historiography of the Great October Socialist Revolution. - M.: Mysl, 1974. - 274 p.
Foster W. The October Revolution and the United States of America. - M.: Gospolitizdat, 1958. - 49 p.
Smirnov A. S. Bolsheviks and the peasantry in the October Revolution. - M.: Politizdat, 1976. - 233 p.
October socialist revolution in Udmurtia. Collection of documents and materials (1917-1918) / Ed. I. P. Emelyanova. - Izhevsk: Udmurt Book Publishing House, 1957. - 394 p.
October Revolution and Civil War in North Ossetia. - Ordzhonikidze: Ir Publishing House, 1973. - 302 p.
Foreign literature about the October Revolution / Ed. I. I. Mints. - M.: Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1961. - 310 p.
Seventieth anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution. Joint ceremonial meeting of the CPSU Central Committee, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR on November 2–3, 1987: Verbatim report. - M.: Politizdat, 1988. - 518 p.
Kunina A.E. Debunked myths: Against the bourgeois falsification of the Great October Socialist Revolution. - M.: Knowledge, 1971. - 50 p. - (Series “New in life, science, technology. “History”).”
Salov V.I. German historiography of the Great October Socialist Revolution. - M.: Sotsekgiz, 1960. - 213 p.

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 bad effect 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 World War continues, Russian troops are retreating and suffering defeats. 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.

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 under the laws of an 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 towards the West, where the Great French Revolution had long since taken place as an illustrative example. 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 came to the throne during the Crimean War, which Russia lost due to systematic economic underperformance of 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 of Alexander III, Nicholas II, was on the throne. 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. The city authorities organized a festive event for peasants and the poor. 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 over the influence of two rival powers in the 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. Firearms were used. According to various estimates, from 140 to 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 help her king as soon as possible. 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 introduced several fundamental changes to the political system of the Russian Empire. Nicholas II previously held sole power. Now he transferred part of his legislative powers to a new body - the 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.

First World War

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’état 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 how the February Revolution took place 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 the Russian army was tired of fighting and was 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. The Civil War began. 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 an event that ushered in a new era in the history of not only Russia, but the whole world.

For the first time in the history of that time, radical communists found themselves in government power. 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 didn't happen.

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, headed 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.


	Demonstrations of women demanding bread and the return of men from the front.
	The beginning of a general political strike under the slogans: “Down with tsarism!”, “Down with autocracy!”, “Down with war!” (300 thousand people). Clashes between demonstrators and police and gendarmerie. The Tsar’s telegram to the commander of the Petrograd Military District demanding “tomorrow stop the unrest in the capital!”
	Arrests of leaders of socialist parties and workers' organizations (100 people). Shooting of workers' demonstrations. Proclamation of the Tsar's decree dissolving the State Duma for two months. The troops (4th company of the Pavlovsk regiment) opened fire on the police.
	Mutiny of the reserve battalion of the Volyn regiment, its transition to the side of the strikers. The beginning of a massive transfer of troops to the side of the revolution. Creation of the Provisional Committee of Members of the State Duma and the Provisional Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet.
	Creation of a provisional government
	Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II from the throne

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).

	Main events of the October Revolution
	The provisional government suppressed peaceful demonstrations against the government, arrests, the Bolsheviks were outlawed, the death penalty was restored, the end of dual power.
	The 6th Congress of the RSDLP has passed - a course has been set for a socialist revolution.
	State meeting in Moscow, Kornilova L.G. they wanted to declare him a military dictator and simultaneously disperse all the Soviets. An active popular uprising disrupted the plans. Increasing the authority of the Bolsheviks.
	Kerensky A.F. declared Russia a republic.
	Lenin secretly returned to Petrograd.
	Meeting of the Bolshevik Central Committee, V.I. Lenin spoke. and emphasized that it is necessary to take power from 10 people - for, against - Kamenev and Zinoviev. The Political Bureau was elected, headed by Lenin.
	The Executive Committee of the Petrograd Council (headed by L.D. Trotsky) adopted the regulations on the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee (military revolutionary committee) - the legal headquarters for preparing the uprising. The All-Russian Revolutionary Center was created - a military revolutionary center (Ya.M. Sverdlov, F.E. Dzerzhinsky, A.S. Bubnov, M.S. Uritsky and I.V. Stalin).
	Kamenev in the newspaper “New Life” - with a protest against the uprising.
	Petrograd garrison on the side of the Soviets
	The Provisional Government gave the order to the cadets to seize the printing house of the Bolshevik newspaper "Rabochy Put" and arrest the members of the Military Revolutionary Committee who were in Smolny.
	Revolutionary troops occupied the Central Telegraph, Izmailovsky Station, controlled bridges, and blocked all cadet schools. The Military Revolutionary Committee sent a telegram to Kronstadt and Tsentrobalt about calling the ships of the Baltic Fleet. The order was carried out.
	October 25 - meeting of the Petrograd Soviet. Lenin gave a speech, uttering the famous words: “Comrades! The workers’ and peasants’ revolution, the need for which the Bolsheviks were always talking about, has come true.”
	The salvo of the cruiser Aurora became the signal for the storming of the Winter Palace, and the Provisional Government was arrested.
	2nd Congress of Soviets, at which Soviet power was proclaimed.

Provisional Government of Russia in 1917

Heads of the Russian government in 1905 - 1917.

Witte S.Yu.	Chairman of the Council of Ministers
Goremykin I.L.	Chairman of the Council of Ministers
Stolypin P.A.	Chairman of the Council of Ministers
Kokovtsev V.II.	Chairman of the Council of Ministers

The February Revolution took place without the active participation of the Bolsheviks. There were few people in the ranks of the party, and the party leaders Lenin and Trotsky were abroad. Leni arrived in rebellious Russia on April 3, 1917. They correctly understood the basic principles by which the scenario would further develop. Lenin understood perfectly well that the Provisional Government was unable to keep its promises to end the war and distribute the land. This should have prompted a new rebellion in the shortest possible time. The October Revolution of 1917 entered the preparation stage.

By the end of August 1917, a situation had developed in the country where the people had lost faith in the Provisional Government. Demonstrations against the Government took place actively in cities. People's trust in the Bolsheviks grew. Lenin gave Russians simplicity. The simple theses of the Bolsheviks contained exactly the points that people wanted to see. Coming Bolsheviks to power seemed very likely at the time. Kerensky, who opposed Lenin with all his might, knew this.

The Bolsheviks came to power

The RSDLP(b), as the Bolshevik party was called, actively began to expand its ranks. People enthusiastically joined the party, which promised to restore order in the country and distribute land to the people. By the beginning of February, the number of the RSDLP(b) party did not exceed 24 thousand people throughout the country. By September, this number was already 350 thousand people. In September 1917, new elections to the Petrograd Soviet took place, in which representatives of the RSDLP (b) received a majority. The Council itself was headed by L.D. Trotsky.

The popularity of the Bolsheviks grew in the country, their party enjoyed popular love. It was impossible to hesitate; Lenin decided to concentrate power in his own hands. October 10, 1917 V.I. Lenin held a secret meeting of the Central Committee of his party. There was only one issue on the agenda, the possibility of an armed uprising and seizure of power. According to the voting results, 10 out of 12 people voted for an armed seizure of power. The only opponents of this idea were G.E. Zinoviev. and Kamenev L.B..

On October 12, 1917, a new body was created under the Petrograd Soviet, called the All-Russian Revolutionary Committee. The October Revolution of 1917 was entirely developed by this body.

The struggle for the Bolsheviks to come to power has reached an active stage. On October 22, the revolutionary committee sends its representatives to all garrisons of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Tribunes were placed throughout the city from which the best Bolshevik speakers spoke.

The Provisional Government, seeing a clear threat from the Bolsheviks, with the help of the police, closed the printing house that printed all Bolshevik printed products. In response to this, the Revolutionary Committee put all units of the Garrison on alert. On the night of October 24, the October Revolution of 1917 began. In one night the Bolsheviks captured the entire city. Only the Winter Palace resisted, but it also capitulated on October 26. The October Revolution of 1917 was not bloody. People, for the most part, themselves recognized the power of the Bolsheviks. The total losses of the rebels were only 6 people. Thus the Bolsheviks came to power.

Without a doubt, the October Revolution of 1917 was a continuation of the February Revolution, but with a number of changes. The February Revolution was largely spontaneous, while the October Revolution was carefully planned. The change of political regime and the rise of the Bolsheviks to power hit the country's international authority. There was “devastation” in the country. The new government needed to quickly restore everything that was destroyed as a result of the revolution.