the russian revolution 1917

As my project focuses on the work of Alexander Rodchenko, it is important that I research events that happened during and prior the artist movement.

Russian Revolution

In 1917 the Russian country was ready for a revolution, growing numbers of middle-class employees and evolving social groups led people to uncertainty and the need for a re-form. Many citizens felt that the Tsar, Nicholas II, was out of touch with the demands and potential of the Russian public. An economical crisis during World War 1 led to widespread inflation and food shortages, coupled with the loss of military and the loss of the war led to the Russian people being convinced that Nicholas II was unfit to rule, which started the Russian Revolution.

Conscription for World War 1 took the skilled workers from the Russian cities who were replaced by unskilled peasants, this led to famine in Russia with poor supplies and a suffered railway system forcing many people to leave the cities to look for food and supplies. The soldiers were also affected and began to turn on the Tsar due to a lack of supplies and equipment.

Strikes followed in Petrograd, the capital of Russia, where virtually every factory was closed. Public meetings were held in Russian parliament, the Duma, where the citizens demanded ‘a responsible cabinet of ministers’. The Duma then encouraged the Tsar to stand-down to prevent a revolution.
The Tsar refused and sent a telegram informing the military to stop the strikes. Most of the soldiers followed the order, but a few mutinies joined the protesters. The police also sided with the strikers, rendering civil authority useless.

Nicholas II abdicated on the 13th March 1917, after Russia’s defeat in World War 1, hoping to bring unity to Russia. This is known as the February revolution.

There was also an October revolution, led by Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Bolshevik part who had communist ideology. Lenin wanted to overthrow the Provisional Government, which he successfully did. The October revolution ended the revolution that was started in February.