Concept
October Revolution
Overview
The October Revolution, also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution (in Soviet historiography), October coup, Bolshevik coup, Bolshevik Revolution, and occasionally the November Revolution, was the second of two revolutions in Russia in 1917. It was led by Vladimir Lenin's Bolsheviks as part of the broader Russian Revolution of 1917–1923. It began through an 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 casualties.
The October Revolution followed and capitalised on the February Revolution earlier that year, which had led to the abdication of Nicholas II and the creation of the Russian 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 mid-1917 (including killing hundreds of protesters in the July Days). It declared the Russian Republic on 1 [N.S. 14] September 1917.
The situation grew critical in late 1917 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 [N.S. 23] October 1917, the Petrograd Soviet, led by Leon Trotsky, voted to back a military uprising. On 24 October [N.S. 6 November], the government closed numerous newspapers, and closed Petrograd, attempting to forestall the revolution; minor armed skirmishes ensued. 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 under the Military-Revolutionary Committee began to occupy government buildings. In the early morning of 26 October [N.S. 8 November], they captured the Winter Palace — the seat of the Provisional government located in Petrograd, then capital of Russia.
As the revolution was not universally recognized, the country descended into civil war, which lasted until late 1922 and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The historiography of the event has varied. The victorious Soviet Union viewed it as a validation of its ideology and the triumph of the working class over capitalism. On the other hand, Western observers saw it as a totalitarian coup, which used the democratic Soviet councils only until they were no longer useful. The Revolution inspired many cultural works and ignited communist movements globally. October Revolution Day was a public holiday in the Soviet Union, marking its key role in the state's founding, and many communist parties around the world still celebrate it.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
He made peace with the revolutionaries and acknowledged the Republic, on condition that he should be the first President instead of Sun Yat Sen. Yuan Shih-k'ai was, of course, supported by the Legations, being what is called a "strong man," _i.e._ a believer in blood and iron, not likely to be led astray by talk about democracy or freedom. In China, the North has always been more military and less liberal than the…
Bertrand Russell, The Problem of China
States what October Revolution is; the author is tied to October Revolution in the knowledge graph.
The food problem is the main cause of popular opposition to the Bolsheviks, yet I cannot see how any popular policy could have been adopted. The Bolsheviks are disliked by the peasants because they take so much food; they are disliked in the towns because they take so little. What the peasants want is what is called free trade, i.e., de-control of agricultural produce. If this policy were adopted, the towns would be…
Bertrand Russell, The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism
States what October Revolution is; the author is tied to October Revolution in the knowledge graph.
If the months preceding the October revolution were months of continuous gain in popular support for the Left--of a general increase in Bolshevik following among workers, soldiers and peasants--then this process was reflected within the party of Social Revolutionists in an increase of the left wing at the expense of the right. Nevertheless, on the party lists of the Social Revolutionists there was a predominance of…
Leon Trotsky, From October to Brest-Litovsk
Names October Revolution twice; opens on October Revolution.
Philosophers who discussed October Revolution
- Murray Bookchin
- Isaiah Berlin
- Sergei Bulgakov
- Pavel Florensky
- Nachman of Breslov
- Ayn Rand
- Alexander Bogdanov
- Georgi Plekhanov
- Cornelius Castoriadis
- Bertrand Russell
- Peter Kropotkin
- Antonio Gramsci
- Emma Goldman
- George Gurdjieff
- Friedrich Pollock
- Vladimir Bazarov
- Gerrit Mannoury
- Aleksei Losev
- Evgeny Pashukanis
Related ideas
- The Holocaust
- Vladimir Lenin
- German Empire
- Historiography
- Private property
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Imperialism
- Leon Trotsky
- Empire of Japan
- Leninism
- Russian Empire
- Freedom of speech
- Ottoman Empire
- French Third Republic
- Maximilien Robespierre
- Saint Petersburg
- Russian Revolution
- Soviet Union
- Anatoly Lunacharsky
- Decolonization
- Cold War
- Sage Publishing
- United States
- Russian Orthodox Church
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of Anarchism.