Events of the 1917 revolution table. 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 was overthrown, and power was transferred.

The Great October Socialist Revolution was the result of internal conflicts that had accumulated in Russian society since at least the middle of the 19th century, the revolutionary process generated by them, which later grew into the First World War. Her victory in Russia provided a practical opportunity for a global experiment in building in a single country. The revolution had a global character, in fact, completely changing the history of mankind in the twentieth century, and led to the formation on the political map of the world that exists to this day and daily demonstrates to the whole world the advantages of the socialist system over.

Causes and background

From the middle of 1916, a decline in industrial and agricultural production began in Russia. The representatives of the liberal-bourgeois opposition, who had gained a foothold in the Duma, zemstvos, city dumas, and military-industrial committees, insisted on the creation of a Duma and a government that would enjoy the confidence of the country. Right-wing circles, on the contrary, called for the dissolution of the Duma. The tsar, realizing the detrimental consequences of carrying out radical, political and other reforms in the course of a war that required political stability, was in no hurry, however, to “tighten the screws”. He hoped that the success of the Entente troops' offensive against Germany planned for the spring of 1917 from the east and west 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 uprisings by force of arms. This, in turn, caused disobedience in the spare parts 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 rebellious soldiers united with the striking workers. On the same day, the Provisional Committee of the State Duma was formed in the State Duma, headed by Duma Chairman 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 finally overthrow the old regime. By the morning of February 28, the uprising in Petrograd had won.

On the night of March 1-2, 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 of the election of soldiers' committees in units and subunits, 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 capability 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 ("power without power").

Period of dual power

The Union State was formed on the basis of the Ukrainian and Byelorussian SSR. 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 RCP (b) took the initiative to form a new international in order to unite and rally the working class of the planet.

In January 1918, a meeting of representatives of leftist groups from a number of European and American countries 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 working-class movement throughout the world in order to carry out a world revolution that would finally replace the world capitalist economy with the world system of communism.

In many ways, it was thanks to the activities of the Communist International that 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.
• Reid J. 10 days that shook 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 Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 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.: Thought, 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 the Civil War in North Ossetia. - Ordzhonikidze: Ir Publishing House, 1973. - 302 p.
• Foreign Literature on the October Revolution / Ed. I. I. Mints. - M.: Publishing house of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1961. - 310 p.
• Seventieth Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution. Joint ceremonial meeting of the Central Committee of the CPSU, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR 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.

The Great Russian Revolution is the revolutionary events that took place 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 - The main revolutionary events in Petrograd

Reason for revolution: Labor conflict at the Putilov factory between workers and owners; interruptions in the supply of food to Petrograd.

Main events February Revolution took place in Petrograd. The leadership of the army, headed by the chief of staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, General Alekseev M.V., 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. After his intended successor, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich also abdicated, 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 form detachments of armed workers (Red Guards), thanks to attractive slogans, they are gaining considerable 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. A telegram from the tsar to the commander of the Petrograd military district demanding "to stop the unrest in the capital tomorrow!"
	Arrests of leaders of socialist parties and workers' organizations (100 people). Execution of workers' demonstrations. Proclamation of the tsar's decree on the dissolution of the State Duma for two months. The troops (4th company of the Pavlovsky regiment) opened fire on the police.
	Mutiny of the reserve battalion of the Volynsky regiment, its transition to the side of the strikers. The beginning of the mass transition of troops to the side of the revolution. Creation of the Provisional Committee of the members of the State Duma and the Provisional Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet.
	Establishment of a provisional government
	Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II from the throne

The results of the revolution and dual power

October Revolution of 1917 main events

During October revolution Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee, established by the Bolsheviks headed 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 endure a hard struggle against the Mensheviks and Right Social Revolutionaries, and the first Soviet government is formed. In December 1917, a government coalition of Bolsheviks and Left Social 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 the socialist revolution.
	State meeting in Moscow, Kornilova L.G. wanted to declare him a military dictator and at the same time disperse all the Soviets. Active popular action frustrated plans. Increasing the authority of the Bolsheviks.
	Kerensky A.F. declared Russia a republic.
	Lenin secretly returned to Petrograd.
	The meeting of the Central Committee of the Bolsheviks, made by Lenin V.I. and stressed that it is necessary to take power 10 people - for, against - Kamenev and Zinoviev. They elected a Political Bureau headed by Lenin.
	The executive committee of the Petrograd Soviet (headed by Trotsky L.D.) adopted the regulation on the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee (military revolutionary committee) - the legal headquarters for the preparation of the uprising. The VRTs, a military revolutionary center, was created (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 ordered the Junkers to seize the printing house of the Bolshevik newspaper Rabochy Put and arrest members of the Military Revolutionary Committee who were in Smolny.
	The revolutionary troops occupied the Central Telegraph, the Izmailovsky railway station, controlled the bridges, blocked all the 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 delivered a speech, uttering the famous words: “Comrades! The workers' and peasants' revolution, about the necessity of which the Bolsheviks have been talking all the time, has come to pass.
	The volley of the cruiser "Aurora" was the signal for the storming of the Winter Palace, the Provisional Government was arrested.
	2 Congress of Soviets, which proclaimed the Soviet government.

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
Stürmer B.V.	Chairman of the Council of Ministers	January - November 1916
Trenov A.F.	Chairman of the Council of Ministers	November - December 1916
Golitsyn N.D.	Chairman of the Council of Ministers
Lvov G.E.		March - July 1917
Kerensky A.F.	Minister-Chairman of the Provisional Government	July - October 1917

February 23 (March 8) - Demonstration of Petrograd workers at the call of the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party against hunger, war and tsarism.
February 25-26 (March 10-11) - General strike of Petrograd workers.
February 26 (March 11) - Decree of Nicholas II on a break in the work of the State Duma.
February 27 (March 12) - Victory of the February Revolution in Russia; overthrow of the autocracy; the formation of the Provisional Committee of the State Duma, headed by M. V. Rodzianko.
March 2 (15) - Formation of the Provisional Government in Russia; abdication of Nicholas II from the throne.
March 4(17) - Creation of the Central Rada in Ukraine.
April 18 (May 1) - Note of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Government P. N. Milyukov to the governments of the allied countries on the continuation of the war "to a victorious end."
April 20-21 (May 3-4) - Demonstration of workers and soldiers in Petrograd demanding Milyukov's resignation; the first crisis of the Provisional Government.
May 5 (18) - Formation of the first coalition Provisional Government headed by Prince G. E. Lvov.
June 18 (July 1) - The beginning of the offensive of the troops of the Southwestern Front, mass anti-war demonstrations of workers in Petrograd, Moscow and other cities.
July 24 (August 6) - Formation of the second coalition Provisional Government chaired by A.F. Kerensky.
In the summer of 1917, by decision of the Provisional Government, the All-Russian Agricultural and Land Census was carried out. At the same time, a population census was carried out in cities and urban-type settlements. The household card had the following sections: surname, first name of the householder, his age, marital status, land ownership, agricultural implements, livestock, commercial and industrial establishments, the number of hiring agricultural workers - a total of 187 points.
August 31 (September 13) - The transition of the Petrograd Soviet to the side of the Bolsheviks.
September 1 (14) - Formation of the Directory headed by A.F. Kerensky; declaration of Russia as a republic.
September 5 (18) - The transfer of the Moscow Soviet to the side of the Bolsheviks.
September 14-22 (September 27 - October 5) - "Democratic Conference" in Petrograd; resolution on the organization of the Pre-Parliament.
September 25 (October 8) - Formation of the third coalition Provisional Government headed by A. F. Kerensky.
October 24-25 (November 6-7) - Armed uprising of workers, soldiers and sailors in Petrograd.
October 25 (November 7) - Establishment of Soviet power in Petrograd; appeal of the Military Revolutionary Committee "To the citizens of Russia!".
October 25-27 (November 7-9) - 2nd All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies in Petrograd; the adoption of the Decree on Peace and the Decree on Land; the formation of the Council of People's Commissars under the chairmanship of V. I. Lenin; election of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.
October 26 (November 8) - Arrest of the Provisional Government in the Winter Palace.
October 29 (November 11) - Decree of the Council of People's Commissars on the introduction of an 8-hour working day.
October-November - suppression of opponents in Petrograd and near Petrograd.
November 1 (14) - Elimination of the counter-revolutionary rebellion of Kerensky - Krasnov near Petrograd.
November 2 (15) - Adoption of the "Declaration of the Rights of the Peoples of Russia" by the Council of People's Commissars.
November 8 (21) - Election of Ya. M. Sverdlov as chairman of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.
Decree on the abolition of estates and civil ranks.
Art. 1. All classes and class divisions of citizens that have existed in Russia until now, class privileges and restrictions, class organizations and institutions, as well as all civil
ranks are abolished.
Art. 2. All titles (nobleman, merchant, tradesman, peasant, etc.), titles (princely, county, etc.) and the names of civil ranks (secret, state and other advisers) are destroyed and one common name of citizens for the entire population of Russia is established Russian Republic.
Art. 3. The property of noble class institutions is immediately transferred to the relevant zemstvo self-governments.
Art. 4. The property of merchant and petty-bourgeois societies shall immediately be placed at the disposal of the respective city self-governments.
Art. 5. All estate institutions, affairs, productions and archives are immediately transferred to the jurisdiction of the relevant city and zemstvo self-governments.
Art. 6. All relevant articles of the hitherto effective laws are repealed.
Art. 7. This decree shall enter into force on the day of its publication and shall be immediately enforced by the local Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies.
This decree was approved by the Central Executive Committee of the Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies at a meeting on November 10, 1917.
Signed:
Chairman of the Central Executive Committee Ya. Sverdlov.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Vl. Ulyanov (Lenin).
V. Bonch-Bruyevich, manager of the Council of People's Commissars.
Council Secretary N. Gorbunov.

November 11 (24) - November 25 (December 8) - Extraordinary All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Peasants' Deputies in Petrograd.
November 14 (27) - Adoption of the regulation on workers' control by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.
November 20 (December 3) - Liquidation of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander in Mogilev; the beginning of negotiations in Brest-Litovsk on an armistice between the Soviet Republic and the countries of the German bloc; appeal of the Council of People's Commissars "To all working Muslims of Russia and the East".
November 22 (December 5) - Decree of the Council of People's Commissars on the organization of courts and the establishment of revolutionary tribunals.
December 2 (15) - Decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and Council of People's Commissars on the organization of the Supreme Economic Council; signing of an armistice with Germany in Brest-Litovsk.
On December 5 (November 22, O.S.), 1917, the Council of People's Commissars adopted Decree No. 1 “On the Court”, which abolished the former judicial system. Local (general) courts and revolutionary tribunals were introduced. Any citizen exercising political rights could act as accusers and defenders. The congresses of local judges served as the court of cassation. Revolutionary tribunals consisted of a judge and six assessors elected by the Soviets.
December 7 (20) - Decree of the Council of People's Commissars on the organization of the Cheka (All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution, Profiteering and Offenses) headed by F. E. Dzerzhinsky.
December 11-12 (24-25) - 1st All-Ukrainian Congress of Soviets in Kharkov; formation of the Ukrainian Soviet Republic.
December 14 (27) - Decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee on the nationalization of banks.
December 16 (29) - Decrees of the Council of People's Commissars on the democratization of the army.
December 18 (31) - Decree of the Council of People's Commissars on the recognition of the state independence of Finland.
Decrees of the Soviet government on the establishment of the People's Commissariat of Education headed by A. V. Lunacharsky, on the press, on the organization of the State Publishing House.

ACT TRAGEDY

On December 18, 1917, the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR "On civil marriage, on children and on the maintenance of books of acts of state" was adopted, which destroyed the old procedure for maintaining act records. The church marriage procedure was cancelled. Husband and wife were endowed with equal rights and duties. Religious functions were left behind the church, that is, baptisms, weddings and funerals were later registered there, but since then the state itself intended to register births, marriages and deaths, although it did not yet have the appropriate authorities for this. As a result, some birth records have been lost, some births, marriages, and deaths have not been registered;

Troops with a large number of Poles fought as far as possible from the Polish lands. After divided Poland ceased to exist in 1916, the formation of Polish formations was allowed, which led to the creation in 1917 of several Polish corps. The Poles had a relatively high percentage of deserters since the beginning of the war.

Plan

Revolution of 1917 in Russia

February Revolution

Politics of the Provisional Government

February to October

October Revolution

The rise of the Bolsheviks to power

II Congress of Soviets

Revolution of 1917 in Russia

Russia's entry into the First World War for some time removed the acuteness of social contradictions. All segments of the population rallied around the government in a single patriotic impulse. The defeat at the front in the fight against Germany, the deterioration in the situation of the people caused by the war, gave rise to mass discontent.

The situation was aggravated by the economic crisis that emerged in 1915-1916. Industry, reorganized on a war footing, generally provided for the needs of the front. However, its one-sided development led to the fact that the rear suffered from a shortage of consumer goods. The consequence of this was an increase in prices and an increase in inflation: the purchasing power of the ruble fell to 27 kopecks. Fuel and transport crises developed. The capacity of the railways did not provide military transportation and the uninterrupted delivery of food to the city. The food crisis was especially acute. The peasants, not receiving the necessary industrial goods, refused to supply the products of their economy to the market. In Russia, for the first time, queues for bread appeared. Speculation flourished. The defeat of Russia on the fronts of the First World War dealt a significant blow to the public consciousness. The population is tired of the protracted war. Worker strikes and peasant unrest grew. At the front, fraternization with the enemy and desertion became more frequent. The revolutionary agitators used all the government's blunders to discredit the ruling elites. The Bolsheviks wanted the defeat of the tsarist government and called on the peoples to turn the war from imperialist to civil.

Liberal opposition intensified. The confrontation between the State Duma and the government intensified. The foundation of the June 3rd political system, the cooperation between the bourgeois parties and the autocracy, was crumbling. Speech by N.N. Milyukov on November 4, 1916, with sharp criticism of the policies of the tsar and the ministers, marked the beginning of a "denunciatory" company in the IV State Duma. The "Progressive Bloc" - an inter-parliamentary coalition of the majority of Duma factions - demanded the creation of a government of "people's confidence" responsible to the Duma. However, Nicholas II rejected this proposal.

Nicholas II catastrophically lost his authority in society due to the "dissputinism", the unceremonious interference of Tsarina Alexander Feodorovna in state affairs and his inept actions as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. By the winter of 1916-1917. all segments of the Russian population realized the inability of the tsarist government to overcome the political and economic crisis.

February Revolution.

At the beginning of 1917, interruptions in the supply of food to the large cities of Russia intensified. By mid-February, 90,000 Petrograd workers went on strike because of a shortage of speculation bread and rising prices. On February 18, the workers of the Putilov factory joined them. The administration announced its closure. This was the reason for the beginning of mass demonstrations in the capital.

On February 23 (according to the new style - March 8), workers took to the streets of Petrograd with the slogans "Bread!", "Down with the war!", "Down with the autocracy!" Their political demonstration marked the beginning of the Revolution. On February 25, the strike in Petrograd became general. Demonstrations and rallies did not stop.

On the evening of February 25, Nicholas II, who was in Mogilev, sent the commander of the Petrograd Military District S.S. A telegram to Khabalov with a categorical demand to stop the unrest. Attempts by the authorities to use the troops did not give a positive effect, the soldiers refused to shoot at the people. However, more than 150 people were killed by officers and police on 26 February. In response, the guards of the Pavlovsky regiment, supporting the workers, opened fire on the police.

Chairman of the Duma M.V. Rodzianko warned Nicholas II that the government was paralyzed and "anarchy in the capital." To prevent the development of the revolution, he insisted on the immediate creation of a new government headed by a statesman who enjoys the confidence of society. However, the king rejected his proposal.

Moreover, he and the Council of Ministers decided to suspend the meeting of the Duma and dissolve it for the holidays. Nicholas II sent troops to suppress the revolution, but a small detachment of General N.I. Ivanov was detained and not allowed into the capital.

On February 27, the mass defection of soldiers to the side of the workers, their capture of the arsenal and the Peter and Paul Fortress marked the victory of the revolution.

The arrests of tsarist ministers and the formation of new authorities began. On the same day, in factories and military units, based on the experience of 1905, when the first bodies of workers' political power were born, elections were held for the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' Soldiers' Deputies. An Executive Committee was elected to direct its activities. The Menshevik N.S. became chairman. Chkheidze, his deputy - Socialist-Revolutionary A.F. Kepensky. The Executive Committee took upon itself the maintenance of public order and the supply of food to the population. On February 27, at a meeting of the leaders of the Duma factions, it was decided to form a Provisional Committee of the State Duma headed by M.V. Rodzianko. The task of the committee was "Restoration of state and public order", the creation of a new government. The Provisional Committee took control of all ministries.

On February 28, Nicholas II left Headquarters for Tsarskoye Selo, but was detained on the way by revolutionary troops. He had to turn to Pskov, to the headquarters of the northern front. After consulting with the front commanders, he became convinced that there were no forces to suppress the revolution. On March 2, Nicholas signed the Manifesto on abdication for himself and his son Alexei in favor of his brother, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich. However, when Duma deputies A.I. Guchkov and V.V. Shulgin brought the text of the Manifesto to Petrograd, it became clear that the people did not want a monarchy. On March 3, Mikhail abdicated the throne, declaring that the Constituent Assembly should decide the fate of the political system in Russia. The 300-year rule of classes and parties is over.

The bourgeoisie, a significant part of the wealthy intelligentsia (about 4 million people) relied on economic power, education, experience in participating in political life and managing state institutions. They sought to prevent the further development of the revolution, stabilize the socio-political situation and strengthen their property. The working class (18 million people) consisted of urban and rural proletarians. They managed to feel their political strength, were predisposed to revolutionary agitation and were ready to defend their rights with weapons. They fought for the introduction of the 8-hour working day, the guarantee of employment, wage increases. Factory committees sprang up spontaneously in the cities. To establish workers' control over production and resolve disputes with entrepreneurs.

The peasantry (30 million people) demanded the destruction of large private land ownership and the transfer of land to those who cultivate it. Local land committees and village assemblies were created in the village, which made decisions on the redistribution of land. Relations between peasants and landlords were extremely tense.

The extreme right (monarchists, Black Hundreds) suffered a complete collapse after the February revolution.

Cadets from the opposition party became the ruling party, initially occupying key positions in the interim government. They stood for the transformation of Russia into a parliamentary republic. In the agrarian question, they still advocated the redemption of the landed estates by the state and the peasants.

The Social Revolutionaries are the most massive party. The revolutionaries proposed turning Russia into a federal republic of free nations.

The Mensheviks, the second largest and most influential party, advocated the creation of a democratic republic.

The Bolsheviks took extreme left positions. In March, the party leadership was ready to cooperate with other social forces. However, after the return of V.I. Lenin from immigration, the April Theses program was adopted.

Provisional government policy.

In its declaration on March 3, the government promised to introduce political freedoms and a broad amnesty, abolish the death penalty, and prohibit all class, national and religious discrimination. However, the internal political course of the interim government proved to be contradictory. All the main organs of central and local government have been preserved. Under the pressure of the masses, Nicholas II and members of his family were arrested. On July 31, Nicholas with his wife and children were sent into exile in Siberia. An Extraordinary Commission was set up to investigate the activities of senior officials of the old regime. Adoption of a law on the introduction of an 8-hour working day.

In April 1917, the first government crisis broke out. It was caused by the general social tension in the country. On April 18, Miliukov addressed the Allied Powers with assurances of Russia's determination to bring the war to a victorious end. This led to extreme indignation of the people, mass rallies and demonstrations demanding an immediate end to the war, the transfer of power to the Soviets, the resignation of Milyukov and A.I. Guchkov. On July 3-4, mass armaments, demonstrations of workers and soldiers took place in Petrograd. The slogans "All power to the Soviets" were put forward again. The demonstration was broken up. Repressions began against the Bolsheviks and the Left Social Revolutionaries, who were accused of preparing an armed seizure of power.

Measures were taken to strengthen discipline in the army, and the death penalty was restored at the front. The influence of the Petrograd and other Soviets temporarily decreased. The dual power was over. From this moment, according to V.I. Lenin, the stage of the revolution ended, when power could pass to the Soviets peacefully.

From February to October.

The February Revolution has won. The old state system collapsed. A new political situation has emerged. However, the victory of the revolution did not prevent further deepening of the crisis state of the country. Economic disruption intensified.

The time from February to October is a special period in the history of Russia. It has two stages.

At the first (March - early July 1917) there was dual power, in which the provisional government was forced to coordinate all its actions with the Petrograd Soviet, which occupied more radical positions and had the support of the broad masses of the people.

At the second stage (July - October 25, 1917), the dual power was over. The autocracy of the provisional government was established in the form of a coalition of the liberal bourgeoisie. However, this political alliance failed to achieve the consolidation of society. Social tension has intensified in the country. On the one hand, the indignation of the masses was growing at the government's delays in carrying out the most urgent economic, social and political transformations. On the other hand, the rightists were dissatisfied with the weakness of the government, with insufficiently decisive measures to curb the "revolutionary element." Monarchists and right-wing bourgeois parties were ready to support the establishment of a military dictatorship. The extreme left Bolsheviks headed for the seizure of political power under the slogan "All power to the Soviets!".

October Revolution. The coming of the Bolsheviks to power.

On October 10, the Central Committee of the RSDLP (b) adopted a resolution on an armed uprising. She was opposed by L.B. Kamenev and G.E. Zinoviev. They believed that preparations for an uprising were premature and that it was necessary to fight for increasing the influence of the Bolsheviks in the future Constituent Assembly. IN AND. Lenin insisted on the immediate seizure of power through an armed uprising. His point of view won.

The Left Socialist-Revolutionary P.E. Lazimir, and the actual leader - L.D. Trotsky (Chairman of the Petrosoviet since September 1917). The Military Revolutionary Committee was created to protect the Soviets from a military putsch and Petrograd. On October 16, the Central Committee of the RSDLP (b) created the Bolshevik Military Revolutionary Center (VRC). He joined the VRC and began to direct its activities. By the evening of October 24, the government was blockaded in the Winter Palace.

On the morning of October 25, the appeal of the Military Revolutionary Committee "To the citizens of Russia!" was published. It announced the overthrow of the provisional government and the transfer of power to the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee. On the night of October 25-26, ministers of the provisional government were arrested in the Winter Palace.

IICongress of Soviets.

On the evening of October 25, the II All-Russian Congress of Soviets opened. More than half of its deputies were Bolsheviks, and the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries had 100 mandates.

On the night of October 25-26, the congress adopted an appeal to the workers, soldiers and peasants, and proclaimed the establishment of Soviet power. The Mensheviks and Right SRs condemned the action of the Bolsheviks and left the congress in protest. Therefore, all the decrees of the II Congress were permeated with the ideas of the Bolsheviks and the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries.

On the evening of October 26, the congress unanimously adopted the Decree on Peace, which called for the belligerents to conclude a democratic peace without annexations and indemnities.

October Revolution of 1917. Chronicle of events

Editorial response

On the night of October 25, 1917, an armed uprising began in Petrograd, during which the current government was overthrown and power was transferred to the Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. The most important objects were captured - bridges, telegraph, government offices, and at 2 am on October 26, the Winter Palace was taken and the Provisional Government was arrested.

V. I. Lenin. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Background of the October Revolution

The February Revolution of 1917, greeted with enthusiasm, although it ended the absolute monarchy in Russia, very soon disappointed the revolutionary-minded "lower layers" - the army, workers and peasants, who expected it to end the war, transfer land to the peasants, ease working conditions for workers and democratic power devices. Instead, the Provisional Government continued the war, assuring the Western Allies of their commitment; in the summer of 1917, on his orders, a large-scale offensive began, which ended in disaster due to the fall in discipline in the army. Attempts to carry out land reform and introduce an 8-hour working day in factories were blocked by a majority in the Provisional Government. Autocracy was not finally abolished - the question of whether Russia should be a monarchy or a republic, the Provisional Government postponed until the convocation of the Constituent Assembly. The situation was aggravated by the growing anarchy in the country: desertion from the army assumed gigantic proportions, unauthorized "repartitions" of land began in the villages, thousands of landowners' estates were burned. Poland and Finland declared independence, nationally-minded separatists claimed power in Kyiv, and their own autonomous government was created in Siberia.

Counter-revolutionary armored car "Austin" surrounded by cadets at the Winter. 1917 Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

At the same time, a powerful system of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies was formed in the country, which became an alternative to the organs of the Provisional Government. Soviets began to form during the 1905 revolution. They were supported by numerous factory and peasant committees, militia and soldiers' councils. Unlike the Provisional Government, they demanded an immediate end to the war and reforms, which found increasing support among the embittered masses. The dual power in the country becomes obvious - the generals in the person of Alexei Kaledin and Lavr Kornilov demand the dispersal of the Soviets, and the Provisional Government in July 1917 carries out mass arrests of the deputies of the Petrograd Soviet, and at the same time, demonstrations are taking place in Petrograd under the slogan "All power to the Soviets!"

Armed uprising in Petrograd

The Bolsheviks headed for an armed uprising in August 1917. On October 16, the Bolshevik Central Committee decided to prepare an uprising, two days after that, the Petrograd garrison declared disobedience to the Provisional Government, and on October 21, a meeting of representatives of the regiments recognized the Petrograd Soviet as the only legitimate authority. From October 24, detachments of the Military Revolutionary Committee occupied key points in Petrograd: railway stations, bridges, banks, telegraphs, printing houses and power stations.

The Provisional Government was preparing for this station, but the coup that took place on the night of October 25 came as a complete surprise to him. Instead of the expected mass demonstrations by the garrison regiments, detachments of the workers' Red Guards and sailors of the Baltic Fleet simply took control of key facilities - without firing a shot, putting an end to the dual power in Russia. On the morning of October 25, only the Winter Palace, surrounded by detachments of the Red Guard, remained under the control of the Provisional Government.

At 10 a.m. on October 25, the Military Revolutionary Committee issued an appeal in which it announced that all "state power had passed into the hands of an organ of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies." At 21:00, a blank shot from the Aurora cruiser of the Baltic Fleet signaled the start of the assault on the Winter Palace, and at 2:00 am on October 26, the Provisional Government was arrested.

Cruiser Aurora". Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

On the evening of October 25, the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets opened in Smolny, proclaiming the transfer of all power to the Soviets.

On October 26, the congress adopted the Decree on Peace, inviting all belligerent countries to start negotiations on concluding a general democratic peace, and the Decree on Land, according to which the landed estates were to be transferred to the peasants, and all subsoil, forests and waters were nationalized.

The congress also formed a government, the Council of People's Commissars headed by Vladimir Lenin, the first supreme body of state power in Soviet Russia.

On October 29, the Council of People's Commissars adopted a Decree on an eight-hour working day, and on November 2, a Declaration of the Rights of the Peoples of Russia, which proclaimed the equality and sovereignty of all the peoples of the country, the abolition of national and religious privileges and restrictions.

On November 23, a decree "On the destruction of estates and civil ranks" was issued, proclaiming the legal equality of all citizens of Russia.

Simultaneously with the uprising in Petrograd on October 25, the Military Revolutionary Committee of the Moscow Council also took control of all the important strategic objects of Moscow: the arsenal, the telegraph, the State Bank, etc. However, on October 28, the Public Security Committee, headed by the chairman of the city Duma Vadim Rudnev, under The support of the junkers and Cossacks began military operations against the Council.

Fighting in Moscow continued until November 3, when the Committee of Public Safety agreed to lay down their arms. The October Revolution was immediately supported in the Central Industrial Region, where the local Soviets of Workers' Deputies had actually established their power, in the Baltic States and Belarus, Soviet power was established in October - November 1917, and in the Central Black Earth Region, the Volga region and Siberia, the process of recognizing Soviet power dragged on until the end of January 1918.

Name and celebration of the October Revolution

Since Soviet Russia switched to the new Gregorian calendar in 1918, the anniversary of the uprising in Petrograd fell on November 7th. But the revolution was already associated with October, which was reflected in its name. This day became an official holiday in 1918, and starting from 1927, two days became holidays - November 7 and 8. Every year on this day, demonstrations and military parades took place on Red Square in Moscow and in all cities of the USSR. The last military parade on Moscow's Red Square to commemorate the anniversary of the October Revolution was held in 1990. Since 1992, it has become a working day in Russia on November 8, and in 2005 a day off on November 7 was also canceled. Until now, the Day of the October Revolution is celebrated in Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Transnistria.