Describe the legacy of the Russian revolution?
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The legacy of the Russian Revolution
Led by a disciplined and internationalist workers party — the Bolshevik party of Lenin and Trotsky — the multinational working class of Russia seized power from the capitalists and landowners on 7 November 1917 (25 October in the pre-revolutionary calendar), erecting the Soviet workers state. Undermined by decades of Stalinist treachery and mismanagement, the Soviet Union was finally smashed by capitalist counterrevolution in 1991-92. But the legacy and lessons of the Bolshevik Revolution live on to inspire future fighters for a socialist world. The following remarks are excerpted from a speech by American Trotskyist James P Cannon on 8 November 1942, amid the darkest days of the Nazi assault on the Soviet Union in World War II.
War and revolution are the most authoritative of all tribunals. It is there, in war and in revolution, that all the great questions are decided in our epoch. The outbreak of the first World War in August 1914, demonstrated that capitalism, as an economic and social system, had exhausted its progressive historic mission. The Russian revolution of November 1917 served notice that a more powerful class than the class of capitalists had come to maturity. The modern proletariat, the progressive force in modern society, the herald and representative of a new social order — this class, as demonstrated by the revolution, took the offensive in the class battle which can only end in world-wide victory.
November 7, 1917. The death sentence on the old order of capitalism and the beginning of the new order of world socialism were both proclaimed on that day. And whatever vicissitudes, whatever setbacks, betrayals or defeats may overtake the proletariat on the road to that final goal; however sharp and deep may be the zigzags in the line which charts the course of the struggle through which humanity shall pass from capitalism to socialism; whatever may befall, the starting point in the line of development will always be traced to that great day which we commemorate tonight — November 7, 1917.
The Russian Revolution was occured into two phases :
February Revolution
October Revolution
Causes of Russian Revolution :
★ The fall of monarchy in February.
★ Some events occurred in October .
February Revolution :
Tsarist Autocracy collapsed due to the following reasons :
In 1917 (winters) , the conditions of the capital city were grim . The capital city was Petrograd.
There was food shortages in the worker's quarters.
A lockout took place at a factory on the right bank .
The following day workers in 50 factories called a strike in sympathy.
In many factories women led the way to strikes .
The demonstrators dispersed and came back by 24 th and 25 th .
On Sunday 25 th February, the Govt. suspended the Duma .
On 27 th.Police headquarters were ransacked .
The streets thronged with people raising slogans about bread , wages , better Hours and democracy.
The very next day , a delegation went to see the Tsar Military commander advised him to abdicate.
Russia's Future would be decided by a constituent assembly.
Petrograd led the February Revolution that brought down the monarchy in February 1917 .
It's main effects :
Army officials , landowners and industrialists were influential in the provisional government.
The liberals as well as socialists among them worked towards an elected government.
In April 1917 the Bolshevik leader Lenin returned to Russia from his exile.
Land transferred to the peasants and bank nationalised.
The Bolshevik renamed itself the communist party to indicate its new radial aims .
Trade unions grow in number. Soldiers committees were formed in the army .
In June about 500 Soviets sent representative to an All Russian Congress of Soviet.
October Revolution :
On October 16,1917 Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and the Bolshevik party to agree to a socialist seizure of power.
A military revolutionary committee was appointed by the Soviet under Leon Trotsky.
PM Kerensky had left the city to summon troops .
Military men loyal to the Govt . seized the buildings of two Bolshevik newspaper.
They take over telephone and telegraph offices and protect the Winter palace.
The military revolutionary committee ordered its supporters to seize Govt offices and arrest ministers.
At a meeting of the All Russian Congress of Soviets in Petrograd, the majority approved the Bolshevik action.
It's Effects :
The Bolshevik were totally opposed to private properties.
Most Industries and banks were nationalised in November 1917 .
Land was declared social property and peasants were allowed to seize the land of the Nationality .
Bolsheviks enforced the partition of large houses according to family requirements.
New uniforms were designed for the army and officials, following a clothing competiton organised in 1918 .
The leading persons of the Revolutions :
In the February Revolution, the Mensheviks led by Alexander Kerensky
In the October Revolution the Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin and Military commander Leon Trotsky.