Russian Revolutions

Social and political revolutions are a major part of Russian history. The two most important events are the 1905 Russian Revolution and the 1917 Communist Revolution. These acts of massive unrest had an impact on neighboring countries, too. Violence and new governments were the results of these actions. The events are still the subject of debate worldwide. Defenders and opponents of these ideas continue to fight over their meaning. These revolutions involved worker strikes, terrorism, civil war and tyranny. The Russian royalty was overthrown and communism took power. Each time, the revolutions were quick, violent, and created radical changes.

The 1905 Russian Revolution

The 1905 Russian Revolution caused a lot of social, economic and political change throughout the Russian Empire. The unrest was mostly against the government. These events caused the creation of a limited constitutional monarchy, multiparty competition and the Russian Constitution of 1906. The conflict also divided Russian liberals and socialists. The socialists separated into two groups: the Socialist-Revolutionary Party and the Marxist Russian Social-Democratic Labor Party.

At the same time, there were worker strikes in Saint Petersburg and protests in other cities. There were demands for civil rights, political independence, universal voting and the creation of a central legislative body. The Russian liberals published most of these requests in their October manifesto. The manifesto was released during the protests throughout Russia.

The revolution also saw the use of terrorism as a political tool. These actions continue to be part of modern events. These problems are now an issue in Russia as well as Western Europe and the United States.

The Russo-Japanese War and the Roots of Unrest

A lot of the upheaval behind the 1905 Revolution began as a result of the Russo-Japanese War. Russia’s defeat decreased the nation’s international influence. The defeat shocked many Russians. The country lost most of its Pacific and Baltic fleets. These events weakened the Russian monarchy and the Russian Imperial Army’s anger at this defeat caused more problems. Consequently, events then set the basis for the 1905 Revolution.

The Russian Revolution of 1917

The Russian Revolution of 1917 was an event of international importance. It ended with communist rule and the rise of the USSR. With the overthrow of the royal family, the Bolsheviks came to power on a wave of Marxist support. Their policies outlawed private property. They also ended most of the reforms of the Revolution of 1905. The Politburo replaced the Duma as Russia’s central legislative body. The revolution also impacted neighboring countries in Eastern Europe. These countries later fell under Soviet control after World War II. Thereafter, communism spread to China and other parts of Asia where revolutions were popular. Though the Soviet Union is now gone, the Russian Revolution of 1917 is still a topic of debate and action worldwide.