The October Revolution

The October Revolution

by Anthony McRae

    When the October Revolution took place, Russia was in the middle of fighting the German horde in one of the most brutal conflicts in history. There was massive shortages in food and general supplies, and the people were tired of being abused by their government. The Bolsheviks who had control over the Petrograd soviet and the soviets surrounding Petrograd (the capital city of Russia at the time) were waiting for the right kindle to ignite the fire of their communist revolution. By October, there was mass unemployment, growing tension over Russia's involvement in WWI, and great political repression throughout the land. The time to start the engine of revolution was now.

   On the 23rd of October, the Bolsheviks' Central Committee voted 10-2 on a resolution that would create an armed militia to overthrow the government. Then at 9:45 a.m. on October 25th, the Bolshevik military led by V.I. Lenin stormed government facilities taking them over with little resistance. By 2:00 p.m., they had overtook the Winter Palace ending the Russian Provisional  Government. That night was the last night of the great Tsarist institution called the Russian Empire. The next morning heralded the birth of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.