The Russian Revolution

Causes of the Russian Revolution

• The Russian economy was stagnant, with widespread poverty and a large wealth gap between the nobility and the working class
• Nicholas II's autocratic rule and lack of reforms led to discontent among the population
• Russia's disastrous involvement in World War I led to food and fuel shortages, further exacerbating the situation
• The influence of socialist and revolutionary ideologies, such as Marxism, contributed to the growing discontent

Impact on the Political Landscape

• The Russian Revolution marked the end of the Romanov dynasty and the Russian Empire
• It led to the rise of the Bolshevik Party, which established the world's first socialist state
• The Revolution paved the way for the formation of the Soviet Union, a one-party socialist state

Key Events and Outcomes

• The February Revolution (1917): mass protests and strikes in Petrograd led to the abdication of Nicholas II
• The October Revolution (1917): the Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power in a bloody coup
• The Russian Civil War (1918-1922): the Bolsheviks fought against the anti-communist White Army, ultimately emerging victorious
• The establishment of the Cheka, a secret police force, to suppress opposition and maintain Bolshevik control

Test your knowledge of the Russian revolution with this quiz. Explore the main causes, impact on Russia's political landscape, and key events and outcomes of this transformative historical event.