The Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution of 1917 was a pair of revolutions that overthrew the Russian monarchy and eventually established the world's first communist state under Bolshevik rule.
Within a single tumultuous year, an empire that had endured for centuries collapsed entirely, replaced first by a fragile provisional government and then by a radical communist movement that would reshape the 20th century.
The Collapse of the Tsarist Monarchy
The February Revolution of 1917 forced Tsar Nicholas II to abdicate, ending centuries of Romanov rule amid widespread unrest fueled by World War I hardships and food shortages.
A Fragile Provisional Government
A provisional government took power following the Tsar's abdication, but struggled to maintain stability while continuing Russia's costly and unpopular participation in World War I.
The Bolshevik Seizure of Power
In October 1917, the Bolshevik Party led by Vladimir Lenin seized power in a second revolution, establishing the world's first avowedly communist government.
A Devastating Civil War
The revolution triggered a brutal multi-year civil war between Bolshevik "Red" forces and various anti-communist "White" factions, ultimately resulting in Bolshevik victory and consolidation of Soviet power.
Reshaping the 20th Century
The revolution established the Soviet Union, fundamentally altering the course of 20th-century global politics and inspiring communist movements across the world for decades afterward.
