THE REVOLUTION OF OCTOBER AND WHAT CHANGED AFTER OCTOBER

The Revolution of October 1917, also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, was a significant event
during the Russian Revolution that led to the rise of the Bolshevik party and the establishment of
Soviet Russia. Here’s a clear breakdown of what happened:

1. Growing Tensions: After the February Revolution in 1917, the Provisional Government took
control of Russia. However, it was weak and struggled to meet the needs of the people,
especially with ongoing participation in World War I. This led to growing dissatisfaction and
conflict between the government and the Bolsheviks, who were a socialist group led by
Vladimir Lenin.

2. Lenin's Concerns: Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks, feared that the Provisional
Government might establish a dictatorship to maintain power. To prevent this, he started
planning an uprising to overthrow the government and seize power for the Bolsheviks.

3. Planning the Uprising: On 16 October 1917, Lenin convinced the Petrograd Soviet (a council
of workers and soldiers) and the Bolshevik Party to agree to a plan for seizing power. They
created a Military Revolutionary Committee, led by Leon Trotsky, to organize and carry out
this plan. The details and date of the uprising were kept secret to ensure its success.

4. The Uprising Begins (24 October 1917):

o On 24 October, the uprising was set into motion. The situation in Petrograd (now St.
Petersburg) was tense. Prime Minister Kerensky, sensing the danger, left the city to
bring in loyal troops to defend the government.

o Government forces tried to act quickly by taking control of key locations, such as the
buildings of Bolshevik newspapers, telephone, and telegraph offices, and the Winter
Palace (the seat of the Provisional Government).

5. Bolsheviks Strike Back: The Bolshevik-controlled Military Revolutionary Committee

responded swiftly. They ordered their supporters, including soldiers and workers, to take
over government offices and arrest the ministers.

6. Taking Control:

o The Bolsheviks made significant moves to secure control over the city. The cruiser
Aurora, which was loyal to the Bolsheviks, fired a symbolic shot at the Winter Palace,
signaling the start of the final assault.

o Other ships also helped by taking over military positions along the Neva River.

o By the end of the day, the Bolsheviks had taken control of Petrograd, and the
government ministers had surrendered.

7. Aftermath:

o The success of the Bolsheviks in Petrograd inspired uprisings in other cities across
Russia. Although there was intense fighting, especially in Moscow, by December
1917, the Bolsheviks had secured control over the crucial Moscow-Petrograd area.

WHAT CHANGED AFTER OCTOBER??

1. Nationalization of Industry and Banks:

o The Bolsheviks opposed private ownership of property. In November 1917, they took
control of all major industries and banks, meaning that the government now owned
and managed these businesses.

o Land was declared to belong to the people, and peasants were allowed to seize land
from the nobility (wealthy landowners).

2. Changes in Urban Life:

o In cities, the Bolsheviks made sure that large houses were divided up and shared
among families according to their needs. They wanted to eliminate the class
differences that had existed under the old system.

o They also banned the use of old aristocratic titles (like “Duke” or “Count”), which had
symbolized the old social hierarchy.

3. New Symbols and Uniforms:

o To represent the new government and its values, new uniforms were created for the
army and officials. The most famous of these was the Soviet hat called the
budeonovka, which was chosen through a design competition in 1918.

4. Political Changes:

o The Bolshevik Party was renamed the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik) to reflect
its commitment to communism.

o In November 1917, the Bolsheviks held elections for a Constituent Assembly, which
was supposed to represent the people. However, they did not win a majority.

o When the Assembly rejected the Bolshevik’s policies in January 1918, Lenin dissolved
it, believing that the All Russian Congress of Soviets (a gathering of workers' councils)
was a more democratic body under the current circumstances.

5. Treaty with Germany:

o In March 1918, the Bolsheviks signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany,
ending Russia’s involvement in World War I. This was a controversial decision, even
among their allies, because it required significant territorial concessions.

6. Establishment of a One-Party State:

o Over time, the Bolsheviks became the only political party allowed to participate in
elections for the All Russian Congress of Soviets, effectively making Russia a one-
party state.

o Trade unions were placed under strict control of the Communist Party to prevent any
opposition.

7. Use of Secret Police:

o The Bolsheviks established a secret police force (initially called the Cheka, later
known as the OGPU and NKVD) to deal with those who opposed or criticized their
 government. This force was responsible for surveillance, arrests, and punishment of
dissenters.

8. Impact on Arts and Culture:

o Initially, many young writers and artists supported the Bolsheviks because they
promised social change and supported socialism. This led to new experiments in art
and architecture.

o However, as the Bolsheviks increased their control, they also imposed censorship,
limiting creative freedom. This caused some artists and intellectuals to become
disillusioned with the new regime.

In summary, after October 1917, the Bolsheviks made radical changes that transformed Russia into a
socialist, one-party state, with strict government control over the economy, society, and even the
arts.

THE CIVIL WAR

1. Land Redistribution and the Breakdown of the Army:

 After the Bolsheviks came to power, they ordered land redistribution, meaning that land
would be taken from the wealthy and given to the peasants.

 Many soldiers in the Russian army were peasants, and when they heard about this, they
deserted the army and went home to claim land, causing the army to break up.

2. Opposition to the Bolsheviks:

 Not everyone in Russia supported the Bolshevik takeover. Non-Bolshevik socialists, liberals,
and supporters of the old Tsarist system (autocracy) strongly opposed the Bolsheviks.

 These groups, which included the “Whites” (pro-Tsarists) and the “Greens” (Socialist
Revolutionaries), organized military forces to fight against the Bolsheviks, who were known
as the “Reds.”

3. Foreign Intervention:

 Several foreign countries, including France, America, Britain, and Japan, were concerned
about the spread of socialism in Russia. They supported the anti-Bolshevik forces by sending
troops to help fight against the Bolsheviks.

4. The Civil War:

 The Civil War was brutal, with widespread looting, banditry, and famine affecting large parts
of the country. Different regions were controlled by different groups at various times, leading
to chaos and suffering for ordinary people.

 The Whites, who supported private property, often treated peasants harshly, especially
those who had taken land during the revolution. This harsh treatment led many peasants to
turn against the Whites and stop supporting them.

5. Bolshevik Victory:

 By January 1920, the Bolsheviks had managed to gain control over most of the former
Russian empire.
  They succeeded partly because they received support from non-Russian nationalities and
Muslim reformers known as jadidists.

 However, in some places, such as Khiva in Central Asia, Russian Bolsheviks were very brutal
towards local nationalists, killing many people in the name of defending socialism. This
brutality made it hard for people to understand what the Bolsheviks truly stood for.

6. Creation of the Soviet Union (USSR):

 To address the confusion and unrest, the Bolsheviks decided to grant political autonomy
(self-governance) to many non-Russian nationalities within the newly formed Soviet Union
(USSR) in December 1922.

 However, even though these regions were given some political power, they were still forced
to follow certain unpopular policies dictated by the Bolsheviks, such as discouraging
traditional practices like nomadism (moving from place to place with herds).

 These policies meant that while the Bolsheviks tried to win over different nationalities, their
success was only partial because many people were still unhappy with the changes.

Summary:

The Russian Civil War was a complex and violent conflict between the Bolsheviks (Reds) and their
opponents (Whites and Greens), supported by foreign powers. The Bolsheviks ultimately won and
established control over most of Russia, forming the Soviet Union in 1922. However, their harsh
policies and actions during and after the war left many people disillusioned and unsure of the
Bolsheviks' true intentions.

MAKING A SOCIALIST SOCIETY

1. Nationalisation and Land Use:

 Industries and Banks: The Bolsheviks kept major industries and banks under government
control. This meant that the state owned and managed these resources rather than private
individuals.

 Land Cultivation: They allowed peasants to farm land that had been taken from the
landowners. This was meant to show how collective work could benefit everyone.

2. Centralized Planning:

 Economic Planning: The Bolsheviks introduced a system of centralized planning to manage

the economy. This meant that officials would make detailed plans for how the economy
should work.

 Five-Year Plans: They created Five-Year Plans to set goals for economic development. The
first two plans covered the periods 1927-1932 and 1933-1938.

 Price Fixing: The government set all prices to control the economy and encourage industrial
growth.

3. Economic Growth:

 Industrial Expansion: The centralized planning led to significant economic growth. For
example, industrial production of oil, coal, and steel doubled between 1929 and 1933.
  New Factory Cities: New cities were built around factories to support industrial growth.

4. Working Conditions:

 Rapid Construction: The quick pace of industrialization led to poor working conditions. For
instance, in the city of Magnitogorsk, a steel plant was built in just three years.

 Hard Lives for Workers: Workers faced harsh conditions, including frequent work stoppages
and very uncomfortable living situations. In extreme cold, people had to endure freezing
temperatures just to use the toilet.

5. Social Developments:

 Education: The Bolsheviks developed an extended schooling system, allowing more factory
workers and peasants to attend universities.

 Childcare: Crèches (childcare centers) were established in factories to care for the children of
working mothers.

 Healthcare: Cheap public health care was provided to improve the well-being of the
population.

 Living Conditions: Model living quarters were built for workers to improve their housing
conditions.

6. Uneven Impact:

 Limited Resources: Although the Bolsheviks made many improvements, the impact was
uneven because government resources were limited. Some areas saw significant benefits,
while others did not.

Summary:

The Bolsheviks aimed to build a socialist society through centralized economic planning and state
control of industries and land. They succeeded in achieving rapid industrial growth and improving
some aspects of social welfare, such as education and healthcare. However, the rapid pace of change
led to poor working conditions and uneven results due to limited resources.

Stalinism and Collectivisation

1. Problems with Grain Supply:

 By 1927-1928, Soviet Russia faced a serious issue with grain supplies. The government had
set low prices for grain, but peasants were unwilling to sell their grain at these prices. They
hoped to get better prices later.

2. Stalin’s Measures:

 Stalin, who became the leader of the Communist Party after Lenin's death, introduced strict
measures to deal with the problem. He believed that wealthy peasants (known as kulaks)
and traders were hoarding grain to profit from higher prices.

 To address this, Stalin’s government began confiscating grain and cracking down on kulaks.
Party members were sent to grain-producing areas to enforce grain collection and raid
kulaks.
3. Collectivisation of Agriculture:

 Collectivisation was introduced as a solution to improve agricultural productivity. Stalin

argued that the small size of peasant farms, which were divided after 1917, was inefficient.

 The plan was to eliminate kulaks, take land from peasants, and create large, state-controlled
farms known as collective farms (kolkhoz). These farms would be run using modern
methods and machinery.

4. Implementation of Collectivisation:

 Starting in 1929, Stalin’s government forced peasants to work on collective farms. Most land
and farming equipment were transferred to these collective farms.

 Peasants worked on the kolkhoz, and any profits were shared among the workers. However,
many peasants were unhappy with this system and resisted.

5. Peasant Resistance:

 In response to the forced collectivisation, many peasants destroyed their livestock. Between
1929 and 1931, the number of cattle in Soviet Russia fell by one-third.

 Those who resisted collectivisation faced severe punishments, including deportation and
exile.

6. Limited Support for Independent Farming:

 Although some peasants were allowed to cultivate land independently, Stalin’s government
was not supportive of these independent farmers. They were often treated harshly.

7. Impact on Production and Famine:

 Despite the collectivisation efforts, agricultural production did not improve immediately.

 Bad harvests between 1930 and 1933 led to a severe famine, one of the worst in Soviet
history, during which over 4 million people died.

The Global Influence of the Russian Revolution and the USSR

1. Global Influence and Formation of Communist Parties:

 Inspiration: The success of the Bolsheviks in Russia inspired many people worldwide. The
idea of a workers’ state, even though it was implemented differently in Russia, fascinated
people globally.

 Formation of Communist Parties: As a result, communist parties were established in various

countries, such as the Communist Party of Great Britain. These parties were influenced by
the Bolshevik model and sought to promote similar ideas in their own countries.

2. Support for Colonial Peoples:

 Encouragement: The Bolsheviks encouraged people in colonial countries to adopt their

socialist model. They saw the revolution as a potential example for those fighting against
colonial rule.

 International Conferences: Many non-Russians participated in the Conference of the

Peoples of the East (1920) and the Comintern (an international organization promoting
 Bolshevik-style socialism). The USSR also offered education to these participants at the
Communist University of the Workers of the East.

3. Rise of the USSR:

 Global Status: By the outbreak of the Second World War, the USSR had gained significant
global stature as a leading socialist state. It had developed its industries and agriculture,
improving the lives of many of its citizens.

4. Criticisms and Reassessments:

 Internal Criticism: By the 1950s, it became clear within the USSR that the government’s
practices were not fully aligned with the ideals of the Russian Revolution. Despite the
achievements in industrial and agricultural development, the USSR had become repressive.

 International Criticism: The global socialist movement also recognized that the USSR’s way
of implementing socialism had serious flaws. The USSR was seen as a great power with
significant achievements, but it was criticized for denying essential freedoms and using
repressive methods.

5. Decline of International Reputation:

 End of the 20th Century: By the end of the 20th century, the international reputation of the
USSR as a model socialist country had declined. While socialist ideals still had respect among
some people, the USSR’s approach was increasingly questioned and reevaluated.

6. Rethinking Socialism:

 Different Approaches: Different countries began to rethink and adapt socialist ideas in
various ways, reflecting on the successes and failures of the Soviet model. Socialism
continued to be respected in theory but was applied differently across the globe.