Question

How did the revolution of 1905 prove to be dress rehearsal of the revolution of 1917?

Answer 1

Lenin stated that the October Revolution of 1917 could never have taken place without the previous experience of the Revolution of 1905. A study of this remarkable event is therefore of great importance for anyone who wishes to understand the dynamics of revolution in general, and not just in the particular case. We publish here Alan Woods’ introduction to the forthcoming Spanish edition of Trotsky’s 1905.

Lenin wrote that the October Revolution of 1917 would never have taken place without the previous experience of the Paris Commune, the February 1917 Revolution, and the Revolution of 1905. All these revolutions provide us with a very rich treasure house of experience and deserve thorough study. And the present work by the great Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky, the Chairman of the Petersburg Soviet in 1905 and one of the principal actors in this tremendous historical drama, is by far the most important work on this subject.

Answer 2

For the following reasons the revolution of 1905 proves to be a dress rehearsal of the revolution of 1917:

1. The revolution of 1905 paved way for workers to conduct strikes and build their own unions or or-ganization.  

2. The 1905 revolution proved that the government of Tsar in Russia was not very strong and the pres-sure from the working class could cause its total collapse.

3. This revolution inspired the Menshevik leaders to develop organizations for workers and launch a protest against the Tsar and his policy of participating in the war.