The French Revolution in Russian Intellectual Life - Article Example

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: The unrest was growing amongst common people. It started off with the modernization,when 1890’s the government tried to avoid European powers to modernize the Russian’s economy. Later in 1913, Russia became the 5th largest industrial power in the world. This economic modernization proved to be the threat to autocracy. But instability started to increase and most importantly the injustice happening to peasants by the aristocratic landowners. People there had growing sense and awareness about political and social orders as democratic ideas were the influence of industrialization. In 1905, Russia was defeated by Japanese and following the same year there was peaceful parade of workers in St. Petersburg (later known as Petrograd) was open fired by Tsarist troops. Following the general strike Tsar created first Russian constitution and the State Duma, an elected parliamentary body. But Nicholas always wanted to retain autocracy. (S?lapentoch, 2008).  During the World War I, Russia suffered great losses and had millions of causalities. Nicholas then went to take control of the army himself in 1915, but at that time there were no such trained people nor any supplies of arm left to fight. This World War I period proved to be a great blow to Tsar’s rule. (St. Petersburg life) On 23rd February 1917, the festival of International Women’s Day broke out in a protest in the streets of St. Petersburg (Russian Capital), against the food shortage. Gradually everybody joined the strike including men, students and all working classes. Even military forces turned rebellious against Tsar and shot their own military officers when they asked the forces to shot the people in procession on the orders of Nicholas. This is known as February Revolution. (St. Petersburg life) With so much unrest prevailing finally Nicholas and tried to hand over his powers to his brother Michael but he cannot become leader until he was elected via elections. The Provisional Government was temporarily formed by the members of Duma until the elections held. Also, a Petrograd Soviet Organization came into being by the trade union of workers and soldiers who favored Socialism than democratic reforms. (St. Petersburg life) In 1917, Lenin decided to return to Russian as he got a chance to rule the Russia. Lenin was against the Tsar rule and was under arrest during his reign but now he got a chance to lead his party, Bolsheviks. He entered by the permission of German authorities as they have won the war and Russia was under control. Lenin was welcomed by Russians and after getting the control over powers, he immediately condemns the Petrograd Soviet and Provisional Government and tried to introduced Communism. In summers of 1917, Lenin tried to bring another revolution by over throwing Provisional and Petrograd Government but was not succeeded as Kerensky, one of the important figures of Petrograd and Provisional Government condemns it and troops were arrived in the city suppressing the dissidents and accused Bolsheviks of being in collision with Germans. Lenin escaped to Finland and others were arrested. Lenin didn’t stop and continued his planning. It was not too late when Kerensky had to face political setbacks and somehow he had to contact Bolsheviks for military assistance when he feared Kornilov was aiming for military dictatorship. The Bolsheviks aided him and hence, took the powers by wining majority votes within the Petrograd and Moscow Soviet. At last, Leon Trotsky was elected as the president. In October of 1917, Lenin now finally decided to capitalize his party’s popularity by replacing the Provisional Government with Bolsheviks. On 24th October, the troops entered St. Petersburg capturing all major buildings and positions in the city. The guards on that places appointed by Provisional Government fled without fighting and by 25th October every single building was under control of Bolsheviks except for the Winter Palace where the Kerensky along with his ministers were hiding with some of his guards. At the morning of that day, Kerensky escaped forever from the palace and the next day Palace was took under control of Lenin without any chaos and bloodshed. Hence, Lenin’s October Revolution was accomplished peacefully. (St. Petersburg life) Soon after the October Revolution, Lenin realized his peace policy with Germans ceded large amounts of Russian Territory and hence, the civil war broke out between the Reds (communists) and Whites (nationalists). This lasted for 4 years proving in favor of Reds and in 1922, the Soviet Union was established. In 1923, Lenin died and Stalin took control of Communist Party which ruled till 1991 when USSR was dissolved. (St. Petersburg life) FRENCH REVOLUTION AND RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: The French Revolution and Russian revolution were almost the same in many ways. Russian and France both had the kings who believed in absolutism and were unjust to the people especially to the middle class called bourgeoisie in France. The middle class in France and Russia always wanted attention to their rights. Louis XVI and Nicholas II both were same kind of kings; least bothered about the social conditions and has nothing to do with people and their issues. So people wanted to be free from monarchy and wanted a fair government. (Kanna – Sama) The causes of both the revolutions were many and similar in some cases. They both started off because of the hunger. In French Revolution the women marched to Versailles to chase Marie Antoinette and killed her. Also, they seized the royal family into their Tuilleries Palace in Paris in order to keep an eye on them. While in Russian revolution, the women demonstrated on International Women’s day festival in the street of St. Petersburg, demanding for the piece of bread. Not only woman but later on all the men, students and working classes were also joined the protest. Even soldiers joined in by disobeying their officers and killing them instead of firing the people in parade. (Kanna – Sama) In French Revolution the middle class known as bourgeoisie was ignored by Louis XVI and recognition was given to the aristocracy. Similarly, Tsar Nicholas also refused to acknowledge the middle class, and poor people while, aristocracy was on power. Middle class people didn’t take it more and their patience was broke out in the form of Revolution of 1917. The Provisional Government in Russia was established to fulfill the rights of people of all class and have every kind of freedom. This too was the situation in French Revolution when bourgeoisie planned to strike against monarchy and set up their government. This was later dissolved by Lenin and he introduced the Communist Government in Russia. Financial situations are other cases similar between both the revolutions. Nicholas was already in debts due to terrible losses in World War I against Germany. He was unable to supply more supplies to the people fighting. He then decided to become the commander of the force, thought that it would prove good for the country but rather it proved fatal. This worsened his conditions and debts on him were increased. French king Louis XVI was also suffering from the debts inherited by his forefathers, Louis XIV and Louis XV. Louis XIV’s building of Versailles was a great debt whereas; Louis XV fought against England and lost the war. Louis XVI decided to assist American Revolution thinking of taking revenge from England of his father loss but it resulted in horrific debts. He seeks assistance and advice from State Generals and in the end he locked them out of Versailles and decided not to take their advice. Then the Tennis Court Oath was taken and it was the first act towards French Revolution. In both the revolutions the systems which were held for long in the countries were abolished. Feudalism was abolished in France and serfdom in Russia with consensus of everybody. (Kanna – Sama) In both revolutions the royal families of both Louis XVI and Nicholas II had to suffer. Louis and his family tried to escape from the protest in Paris and were caught near Austria. On the other had Romanov family wanted no trouble and Tsar Nicholas abdicated peacefully wanting best for his people. He and his family was arrested by General Kornilov and imprisoned in their own Tsarskoe Selo. They were kept on moving to different place but lastly they were Impatiev House in Ekaterinburg where they were shot to death on the order of Lennon. Louis and his family were also harshly killed. (Kanna – Sama) Work Cited S?lapentoch, D. (2008). The French Revolution in Russian intellectual life, 1865-1905. New Brunswick (N.J.: Transaction Publishers). Kanna – Sama, French Revolution and Russian Revolution St. Petersburg life, 1917 Russian Revolution Read More