How revolutionary was the Russian Revolution?

[Katherine]

[287]

it wasn't a revolution of the Russian people because life was good for everyone in Russia in 1917

there was never serfdom or bread shortage - that was propaganda

it was illegal regime change from outsiders - Trotsky was from New York City - real name Lev Bronstein

[Spellbound]

A revolution, by definition, rapidly changes the entire political and social fabric of a country. Both the February and October Revolutions did just that.

The February Revolution removed the Tsar from office, and saw many aristocrats lynched, or their estates seized, and the middle classes taking power. Both society and Russian politics were fundamentally changed.

The October Revolution was an even more radical change. The workers, well, their 'representatives' in the form of the Bolsheviks, seized power. They seized ALL the aristocratic estates, handing over the ownership to the village soviets. The factories, mines, banks and shops were also seized, the owners receiving no compensation.

Lenin instituted many reforms, from the structure of the army to the ownership of land. The main reforms were:
Reformed the political system of the country - creating a socialist state.
Reformed land ownership, previously the peasants held land from aristocratic landlords - Lenin gave the peasants the land.
Industry. Factories were either owned by the state - like the huge armaments and textiles factories in Petrograd or owned by very rich (often aristocratic) men - Lenin nationalised industry, i.e. the state took ownership of the factories.

The Civil War caused great hardship, especially in the cities - the Bolsheviks brought in the policy of War Communism. This was requisitioning grain from the peasants - often at gunpoint.
When the Civil War was more or less over Lenin brought in a new policy to kick-start the economy - the New Economic Policy. This allowed small enterprises to open up and for people to sell goods on the open market.


Ignore Lily - she knows absolutely nothing beyond race hatred.

Lily - here's the emancipation proclaimation. Proving you know absolutely nothing about Russia.
http://schoolart.narod.ru/1861.html

[GIO C]

95% was the proletariat so there is your answer.