Why was there a Bolshevik revolution in October 1917?

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Why was there a Bolshevik revolution in October 1917?

  There are many reasons for the Bolshevik revolution in 1917.  In brief these are the strong influence of Marxism, unhappiness caused by the varying poor living standards of the peasants and working class, the population and structure and the conditions created by the Absolute Monarchy and the Provisional Government.  Other reasons for the revolution are possibly Bloody Sunday, the Russo-Japanese War, and the 1905 Revolt by the working class.  In addition there was the unsuccessful Duma in 1906, the conflicts between powers, World War One and more importantly the rise of Lenin and the increasing support of his Bolshevik Party.

  In the time before the 1917 Revolution Marxism was growing in support.  Marx’s theory that the state will whither away was attractive to many and once Capitalism had set into Russia more and more people turned to Marxism.  In 1872 the first volume of Marx’s ‘Capital’ passed the censor in Russia.  Many began to read his theories and it gained more support from anti-capitalists and those against western policies.  Industrialists in St. Petersburg also liked it as it described the type of factory system their rivals in Moscow were trying to imitate. It was also very popular with intellectuals.  Lenin eventually adopted Marx’s theory, along with Martov.  Political parties were formed which played roles in the strikes of 1895, 1896 and 1897.  These all display a feeling of discontent in Russia.

  Living and working standards were very poor in Russia.  By 1914 there were 125 million people living in Russia, of which a massive 77 per cent were peasants and those in the hereditary nobility accounted for a mere 1 per cent.  The peasants lived and worked in appalling conditions on Communes called mirs, which a third of the land was owned by Kulaks.  All the peasants desired was land of their own and bread to eat. The Working Class wanted a shorter working day, better working and living conditions, bread and the right to strike and have unions.  However, the Middle Classes wanted political power, a Constitutional Monarchy and Democracy. They were not in favour of the Working Class vote. Nobility in Russia also wanted a Democracy but they wanted more power.

  Russia was living under a feudal system, disliked by many.  The Tsar had absolute power.  He could choose the ministers in the Duma, make and break laws as and when he pleased and could appoint whom he wanted as army leaders.  In 1906 a Constitutional Monarchy was formed with the Duma moving towards Democracy. However, in time the Tsar began to take back the concessions he made to strengthen his position, so no real change had been made and the Duma was a disaster.

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  In 1904 to 1905 Russia was involved in a war with Japan (the Russo-Japanese War).  Russia encountered a humiliating defeat.  Most of their torpedoes missed and there was a time where Russia could have won the war in a day, but ceased to take advantage of the opportunity.  The first big battle was at Yalu where the Russians were out-numbered by three to one and was being led by Stoessel, a man renowned for incompetence.  In May 1905 the entire Russian squadron was annihilated.  This was the first European defeat by an Oriental country in over 700 years.  The ...

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