The Russian Revolution

The Russian Revolution

     The Russian Revolution, which occurred towards the end of the First World War in 1917, was a tremendous large-scale event upon the 20^th Century and the World. This political event within the Russian Empire occurred for many reasons including Russia�s disastrous entry into World War I along with the Czar�s incompetent rule along with the existence of many radicals inside and outside Russia who were plotting a return to Russia and vengeance against the Czar and his rule, Including Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky and along with the brutal and unforgiving Joseph Stalin who would arguably the most significant leader of the coming Soviet Union. After the Revolution occurred its effects were wide reaching including the World�s first Communist Government although not in Marx�s vision was nonetheless significant in geopolitics at the time. Also the existence of this new Communist government in Russia set off a wave of anti-communist opinions and feelings in the West including the 1^st Red Scare in the United States. This along with not to mention providing an excuse for Hitler�s aggression in World War II against the Soviet Union and the Cold War that followed between the Soviet Union and it�s Warsaw Pact Allies and the United States and it�s NATO Allies. The Cold War of which would eventually led to the end of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. The Russian Revolution it could also be argued set precedent and the stage for the rise of other Communist Regimes in areas outside of Eastern Europe including the victory of Communists in China in the years following WWII and the rise of Mao Zedong. Along with Kim-Il Sung coming to power after World War II in the Northern half of Korea. In addition to rise of Castro to power in Cuba along with the brutal and nightmarish rise of to power in Cambodia of Pol Pot along with many other Communist and Socialist regimes throughout the World. The effects of the Russian Revolution even reverberate into the 21^st Century.

   The Russian Revolution it could be argued and almost stated was boiling and building in the Political atmosphere of Russia for a long time before the Revolution it�s self. In the years Pre-World War I years before the Revolution there was another attempted Revolution that failed. The Revolution of 1905 that failed although with the Czars existing brutality and oppression helped seal even further discontent him. The Revolution it could be argued was also spurred on by the fact that for the most part Pre-World War I Russia wasn�t an industrialized or industrializing nation unlike its counter parts in the West or to the East with Japanese Empire along with a general lack of prosperity in Russia it�s self which was in part created by the lack of industrialization. This help to further lay the groundwork for Revolution with the poor economic conditions this combination created. The boiling point for popular discontent and Revolution in Russia was reached with Russia�s entry in the First World War, which proved disastrous for Russia. This along with scarcities, heavy losses and the rapid and increasing gains of the Central Powers in Russia proved that the Czar and Romenov family�s rule in Russia days were numbered. The Revolutionaries who would finally topple them were in part assisted by the Central Powers, Especially getting into Russia where they would set about stirring up one of the most far effecting Revolutions the World has ever seen.

      In 1917 with the disastrous effects of his personal insistence of his own leadership in World War I, Czar Nicholas II of Russia steps down from the throne and any position of leadership he had and goes into exile with the rest of his family, which would eventually be kidnapped and killed by the Bolsheviks. After this occurs Provisional Government under the leadership of Alexander Kriensky takes power, which was somewhat open at least to democratic ideas. However this government was very weak politically and soon fell to Bolshevik Revolutionaries under the leadership of Vladimir Lenin who along with many of his fellow idealistic Revolutionaries espoused a politicized version of Communism and Socialism unlike the attention of Karl Marx. After taking power Lenin pulled Russia out of World War I and moved to implant many of his ideas. However he was soon faced with a civil insurrection caused by anti-Bolshevik Russian Army officers and political leaders called Whites who were loyal to the Czar and the Royal Family they were supported by the Western Powers along with Japan which would intervene militarily However Lenin and his new Government in Russia would survive and emerge victorious over the Whites.

   The Personalities of the Russian Revolution were almost as diverse and powerful as the events surrounding the Revolution it�s self. Among the Bolshevik Revolutionary leaders that took power in the Revolution was first and foremost Vladimir Lenin who in the whole course of events of the Russian Revolution was both idealistic and out for revenge against the Royal Family which had killed his brother who was also a revolutionary and had exiled him. Another set of characters in the Revolution on the Bolshevik side was the intellectuals among them these included Leon Trotsky who advocated a more outward version of Communism to spread around the world after implementing it in Russia. Another key and crucial in all of this was a Georgian man who had the childhood nickname of Koba; This would be Stalin who was a brutal criminal in profession and at many ways at heart. Who in the years after the Revolution would worm his way to power.

   The Russian Revolution would also demonstrate far reach effects across the Globe geopolitically as Communism started to emerge victorious in Russia. This fact created much hype and fear in the West and in some cases justly so. However much of this was paranoia and an intense fear of the spread of Communism with such events such as the 1^st Red Scare in the United being at least somewhat linked to the rise of Communism to power in Russia. Also it could be argued that Hitler�s Rise in Germany was at least somewhat related to the Russian Revolution as part of Hitler�s portrayal of adversaries included the Communist Soviet Union among others. In addition the Cold War that followed can be blamed at least in part on Communism and the effects of this had an effect not only on the history and geopolitics of the 20^th Century but the 21^st as well.

    The Russian Revolution as history shows was an outburst of anger and frustration at a government that did not meet the needs of it�s people and avoided heeding it�s opinions and in addition to this oppressing the people they were ignoring. This course of action as history shows would have a major effect on the course of history as the major personalities and events of the 20^th Century developed as a result of the Russian Revolution. The Russian Revolution it could also be argued changed the course of World History more so then any Revolution before it even though political Communism for the most part failed in establishing it�s self as the foremost World ideology or even staying in power in the nation where politicized Communism can into being.

I wrote this for my exam in International Relations.

What does everyone think?