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October Revolution

The October Revolution,[a] also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution[b] (in Soviet historiography), October coup,[5][6] Bolshevik coup,[6] or Bolshevik revolution,[7][8] was a revolution in Russia led by the Bolshevik Party of Vladimir Lenin that was a key moment in the larger Russian Revolution of 1917–1923. It was the second revolutionary change of government in Russia in 1917. It took place through an armed insurrection in Petrograd (now Saint Petersburg) on 7 November 1917 [O.S. 25 October]. It was the precipitating event of the Russian Civil War. The initial stage of the October Revolution which involved the assault on Petrograd occurred largely without any human casualties.[9][10][11]

"Red October" redirects here. For other uses, see Red October (disambiguation), October Revolution (disambiguation), and November Revolution (disambiguation).

The October Revolution followed and capitalized on the February Revolution earlier that year, which led to the abdication of Nicholas II and the creation of a provisional government. The provisional government, led by Alexander Kerensky, had taken power after Grand Duke Michael, the younger brother of Nicholas II, declined to take power. During this time, urban workers began to organize into councils (soviets) wherein revolutionaries criticized the provisional government and its actions. The provisional government remained unpopular, especially because it was continuing to fight in World War I, and had ruled with an iron fist throughout the summer (including killing hundreds of protesters in the July Days).


Events came to a head in the fall as the Directorate, led by the left-wing Party of Socialist-Revolutionaries (SRs), controlled the government. The far-left Bolsheviks were deeply unhappy with the government, and began spreading calls for a military uprising. On 10 October 1917 (O.S.; 23 October, N.S.), the Petrograd Soviet, led by Trotsky, voted to back a military uprising. On 24 October (O.S.; 6 November, N.S.) the government shut down numerous newspapers and closed the city of Petrograd in an attempt to forestall the revolution; minor armed skirmishes broke out. The next day a full scale uprising erupted as a fleet of Bolshevik sailors entered the harbor and tens of thousands of soldiers rose up in support of the Bolsheviks. Bolshevik Red Guards forces under the Military-Revolutionary Committee began the occupation of government buildings on 25 October (O.S.; 7 November, N.S.), 1917. The following day, the Winter Palace (the seat of the Provisional government located in Petrograd, then capital of Russia) was captured.


As the Revolution was not universally recognized, the country descended into the Russian Civil War, which would last until 1923 and ultimately lead to the creation of the Soviet Union in late 1922. The historiography of the event has varied. The victorious Soviet Union viewed it as a validation of their ideology, and the triumph of the worker over capitalism. During Soviet times, revolution day was a national holiday, marking its importance in the country's founding story. On the other hand, the Western Allies saw it as a totalitarian coup, which used the democratic Soviet councils only until they were no longer useful. The event inspired many cultural works, and ignited communist movements across Europe and globally. Many Marxist–Leninist parties around the world celebrate October Revolution Day.

Etymology[edit]

Despite occurring in November of the Gregorian calendar, the event is most commonly known as the "October Revolution" (Октябрьская революция) because at the time Russia still used the Julian calendar. The event is sometimes known as the "November Revolution", after the Soviet Union modernized its calendar.[12][13][14] To avoid confusion, both O.S and N.S. dates have been given for events. For more details see Old Style and New Style dates. It was sometimes known as the Bolshevik Revolution, or the Communist Revolution.[15]


Initially the event was referred to as the "October coup" (Октябрьский переворот) or the "Uprising of the 3rd", as seen in contemporary documents, for example in the first editions of Lenin's complete works.

All was nationalized by the government.

private property

All were nationalized.

Russian banks

Private were expropriated.

bank accounts

The properties of the (including bank accounts) were expropriated.

Russian Orthodox Church

All were repudiated.

foreign debts

Control of the factories was given to the soviets.

Wages were fixed at higher rates than during the war, and a shorter, was introduced.

eight-hour working day

Bibliography of the Russian Revolution and Civil War

(1991)

Dissolution of the Soviet Union

February Revolution

Index of articles related to the Russian Revolution and Civil War

Kiev Bolshevik Uprising

October Revolution Day

Revolutions of 1917–1923

Russian Civil War

(1917)

Russian Revolution

Soviet Decree

Ten Days That Shook the World

free books on Russian Revolution

Read, Christopher: , in: 1914–1918 online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War.

Revolutions (Russian Empire)

Peeling, Siobhan: , in: 1914–1918 online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War.

July Crisis 1917 (Russian Empire)

The October Revolution Archive

commentary by Roy Medvedev, Project Syndicate, 2007

Let History Judge Russia's Revolutions

October Revolution and Logic of History

Archived 16 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine and Russia Archived 21 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine at time of October Revolution at omniatlas.com

Maps of Europe

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How the Bolshevik party elite crushed the democratically elected workers and popular councils – soviets – and established totalitarian state capitalism