Extent Of Political Involvement In The Revolution example essay topic

The Russian revolution of February 1917 was a momentous event in the course of Russian history. Its causes, nature and effect are complex and critical in the analysis of twentieth century international history. The revolution began in Petrograd as a workers revolt in response to bread shortages, and was aimed at the Tsarist system because it was believed that the government was hoarding the bread in order to drive up prices. Marxist historians have grossly exaggerated the extent of political involvement in the revolution, and it would be fair to say that only at a very late stage of the revolution did socialist political parties become involved.

The Tsarist system fell for many reasons: the war against Germany meant that troops could not be deployed in force against the revolutionaries; the Tsar underestimated the extent of the revolts in Petrograd until it was too late; and the Tsar was convinced by his generals that only the Duma could deal with the situation. The revolution began as a peaceful bread protest on International Women's' Day. The frustrated townspeople began to transform into an unruly mob because their protest had the support of demonstrations by the more militant Petrograd factory workers. Textile labourers, as well as workers in the Putilov steel works, went on strike, and the crowds swelled from 100,000 on the first day on protest (February 23), to over 200,000 three days later. Vladimir Lenin was brought back from exile, and helped to lead the people into the revolution.

They became militaristic, and on 24 October 1917, the gun ship Aurora shelled a Russian harbour. The people were in revolution, and the Tsarist government could do nothing. The national troops were out at war, and the nation was defenceless. After the communist forces took over, the Czar was kidnapped, and shot.

Shortly after the communist take over of the government they began taking steps to get Russia out of the World War, and in early 1918, they did. It took a while but they were soon recognized as a legitimate government, and a world power. They became the leaders of the most feared threat to the capitalist world, communism. After the success of the revolution, communist ideology was spreading like wild fire world round.

The idea of worldwide revolution was a justified fear and one that many in the United States and Europe had. The Russian revolution wasn't just important for it's time period, but it was the defining event of the twentieth century. Had the revolution not occurred then many wars would have been prevented, and World War II would have been a loss for the victorious allies. You may be wondering why it affects us today though. The reason is simple, the Cold War.

Had the Cold War never taken place, we would not have had billions and billions of government dollars spent on technological advances, we would not have had such advanced computers, there would be no internet, our aeronautical technology would be pitiful, and what we think of when we think of modern warfare would be totally non-existent. Vietnam would have not taken place, and the same goes for The Korean War. The Russian revolution has definitely changed our century, life, and our view of the world; it has affected us in both a good and a bad way, although I believe the benefits have outweighed the consequences.