Causes of The Russian Revolution

The two Russian Revolution’s of 1917 is classed as one of the most significant events in modern history. It was a political movement in Russia that climaxed in 1917 when the Provisional Government was overthrown after replacing the Russian Czar system leading to the establishment of the Soviet Union. The Russian Revolution affected Europe and America as well as indirectly spreading Communism around the world to struggling third world countries.

The two Revolutions were split into two main parts: the creation of the world’s first Communist State (November Revolution) and the overthrow of the tsarist regime (March Revolution). The causes of the two revolutions include Russia’s political, social and economic situation.

The people of Russia politically resented the dictatorship of Czar Nicholas II. The loss and suffering that Russia obtained during World War I further weakened Russia’s view of Nicholas. Socially, the Czarist regime had oppressed the peasant class for centuries causing unrest within the lower peasant class resulting in riots breaking out. Economically, widespread inflation and famine in Russia contributed to the revolution. A combination of all three, and the leadership of Vladimir Lenin, led to the Russian Revolution.

Economic causes of the Russian Revolution were largely based on the Czar’s negligence throughout World War I. There were an insufficient number of workers in the factories and on the farms on account of over fifteen million men joining the army. This resulted in food and material shortages. Working conditions for factory workers were dreadful and working hours were between 12 and 14 hours per day on low wages. Riots and strikes broke out for higher wages, shorter working hours and better working conditions. Some factories agreed to higher wages. Wartime inflation invalidated the increase.

There was one protest in which Nicholas reacted with violence and in response; industrial workers went on strike and successfully halted the railway and transportation networks. The few supplies that were available could not be transported. Prices began to rise as goods became scarce and by 1917, famine was threatening many of the larger cities. The fact the Nicholas failed to solve Russia’s economic suffering and that communism’s promise to do just that, was one of the main causes of the Russian Revolution.

Social causes of the Russian Revolution were mainly from centuries of oppression towards lower classes by the Czarist regime and Nicholas’ failures of World War I. Approximately, 85% of Russia were peasants, under cruel domination by the upper classes and the Czarst regime. In 1861, the Czar, Alexander II of Russia emancipated the peasants but did so not for moral reasons but because it was stopping Russia from advancing socially. The freedom that the peasants had obtained from this was of limited use, as they had no land to work on. The government decided to draft new terms which gave peasants a set amount of land in which to cultivate though this amount of land was insufficient causing mass riots to break out.