The Bolshevik Revolution
October 25 (November 7), 1917 · 20th Century
The October Revolution occurred November 7, 1917, when Vladimir Lenin and the Bolshevik Party overthrew the Provisional Government headed by Alexander Kerensky. Revolutionary forces, coordinated from the Smolny Institute by Lenin and Leon Trotsky, seized key locations in Petrograd before storming the Winter Palace, where the Provisional Government operated. The coup established a communist state that led to the formation of the Soviet Union. The revolution preceded the Russian Civil War (1918-1922) and influenced global politics throughout the 20th century.
Key Figures
Alexander KerenskyLeon TrotskyVladimir LeninVladimir Antonov-Ovseyenko
Locations
Winter PalaceSaint PetersburgSmolny Institute
Topics
soviet unioncommunist statebolshevik revolutionoctober revolution
Connected Events — 3 Connections
Precipitated Russia's disastrous involvement in World War I, creating the economic collapse, military defeats, and mass casualties that fueled revolutionary sentiment Lenin exploited Germany declares war on Russia
Ended the era of liberal reforms and initiated decades of repressive policies under Alexander III and Nicholas II, creating the revolutionary underground culture that produced Lenin and the Bolsheviks Assassination of Alexander II
February Revolution overthrow of the Tsar created the weak Provisional Government that the Bolsheviks then seized power from February Revolution
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