What were the causes of the 1917 Russian Revolution?

1905 saw Bloody Sunday occur when Tsarist Russian Imperial forces massacred protestors angry with famine and feudalism. This resentment continued to fester until February 1917 when in amidst of famine, inflation, poor land distribution and autocratic rule as well as Russian losses in World War One, the Tsar abdicated the throne. The failure of coalitions during the Provisional Government interregnum between February and October gave the Bolshevik Party ample ground to seize power in a Russia with a history of autocratic leadership. Leftwing historians argue that Vladimir Lenin's charismatic leadership and public dissatisfaction with the ancient regime made October 1917 a popular revolution from below. On the other hand, recent research since the end of the Cold War in 1989 by American historian Richard Pipes argues that the revolution was in fact a coup, and the party did not enjoy popular support, evidenced by the fierce opposition in the following Russian Civil War.

LH

Related History A Level answers

All answers ▸

What was the 'Suez Crisis' in 1956 and why was it so significant?


What was the short term significance of tanks and their usage in World War One?


How accurate is it to say that the Pilgrimage of Grace of 1536 was a reaction to Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries?


To what extent did the actions of the British government cause the radicalisation of Nationalist ideology 1916-1921