1 The Revolution of October 1917 On 24th October 1917, Lenin returned from exile and joined the Petrograd Soviet. The next day, the soviets, controlled by the Bolsheviks, took over strategic points around the city. They stormed the Winter Palace (28) and detained the Provisional Government. The October Revolution had begun . A new government was formed (Council of People's Commissars), led by Lenin. Under Lenin, the Bolshevik government made many significant changes: The civil war (1918-1921) The tsarists ( landowners, militar y commanders, the Orthodox Church , etc.) created the White Army to tr y to overthrow the Bolshevik regime. The White Army was supported by other countries who feared the spread of the Revolution . The Bolsheviks, under Trotsky, created the Red Army. In July 1918, the Bolsheviks executed the tsar and his family. In 1921, they launched an offensive and won the war. During the conf lict, "war communism" was introduced to guarantee supplies to the cities and the war fronts. Industries were nationalised and crops were seized to feed the army. Despite this, there was a famine in 1921. The basis of a new state was established in this period: All decisions were taken by the Bolsheviks (now called the Communist Party). A communist dictatorship was established. All other parties were banned. The government repressed strikes and protests violently. Define: Council of People's Commissars, Red Army, war communism. Analyse why the February Revolution took place. Was it a failure? Why or why not? How did the Bolsheviks come to power in October 1917? Describe the process. Compare and decide. Did the Russian Revolution have the same historical relevance as the American and French revolutions? K E Y Q U E S T I O N S 28. Assault on the Winter Palace in 1917 It withdrew Russia from the war (Treaty of BrestLitovsk, 1918). It ordered the expropriation of large estates, without compensation, to distribute land to the peasantry. Factories were placed under workers' control. The dif ferent nationalities within Russia were granted the right of sovereignty. 41
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