The Russian Revolution of 1917

*Includes pictures

*Includes contemporary accounts

*Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading

The 17th century was marked by multiple pro-democratic revolutions exploding in both hemispheres. In Europe and its neighbors to the east, border-changing wars were fought incessantly. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the underlying premises of political, governmental and social structures within several European and Asian states were shaken to the core after centuries of royalty and one-family rule. By the onset of World War I, royal families began to experience a long, slow decline, with some quietly fading into the status of national symbols and others experiencing political overthrow. Some were horrified by the suddenness of a changing public, while others barely noticed.

In the ensuing chaos brought about by the Great War, the last ruling family in Russia suffered the most brutal form of regime change at the hands of the Bolsheviks following a revolution in 1917, as the public outcry for individual equality mirrored the violence of the French Revolution from a prior century. The Romanov dynasty, which had enjoyed unbroken control over the throne since the early 1600s, represented a dilemma for a dissatisfied and restless workforce that nevertheless viewed the royal family through the lens of an ancient mystique.

Indeed, there was plenty of mystique, as the Romanov saga was rife with intrigue, including the controversy surrounding Grigory Rasputin, suspicion directed toward the German roots of Tsarina Alexandra, and fascination with the young children of the tsar, their image buoyed by the powerful new medium of photography. However, this mystical and fictitious portrait of the beloved ruler and happy peasant collided with Vladimir Lenin's Bolshevik uprising, a movement largely devoid of mercy or sentiment, in 1917.

The course of events of 1917 in Russia - the February Revolution and the October Revolution - resulted in the destruction of the Russian Empire and the emergence of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, decisive events that still impact the world today. This change of state structure in Russia determined the course of history for the next century, and debate regarding these events is ongoing. Some believe the Bolsheviks' rise to power was a favorable event for the people, while others believe it was the worst possible option.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the issue became an acute political problem. The Liberals believed the arrival of Bolshevik power to have been violent and not natural for Russia. They believe it was a conspiracy led by officials who did not have the interests of the people at heart, and they use this interpretation to justify the Soviet Union's collapse.

The Russian Revolution of 1917: The History of the Russian Empire's Collapse and the Establishment of the Soviet Union examines the history of some of the 20th century's most seminal events. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Russian Revolution like never before.