The most dramatic political and social upheaval of the mid-twentieth century was the Russian Revolution of 1917. Russia was among the most underprivileged nations in Europe in the early 1900s, with a substantial peasant class and an increasing number of low-wage laborers, mainly in large Russian capitals, notably Petrograd and Moscow. Russia was perceived as a primitive civilization in most of Western Europe (Brooke, 2006). The Russian Revolution laid the foundation for a socialist government, bringing industrialization and modernization to Russia.
Early into the nineteenth century, the Russian Empire used serfdom, a version of aristocracy in which commoners without land ownership were compelled to work for the noble landowners, which ultimately stopped in 1861. Serf liberation would impact the circumstances that led to the Russian Revolution by allowing commoners to congregate better and effectively (Brooke, 2006). Later, laborers and troops supported the movement resulting in the Soviets’ formation due to Tsar’s weak leadership. Compared to Western Europe, Russia experienced the industrial revolution considerably late.
Most learned Russians, through platforms such as the Radicle Circles, observed how the feudalistic authority of the Tsar and their loyalists in the aristocracy obstructed development in their country. Two revolutions took place, with the Tsar’s abdication being the first to emerge. A group of prominent figures from Russia’s imperialist capitalist elite had brought together the provisional authority (Brooke, 2006). However, under Lenin’s revolutionary leadership, the Bolsheviks overthrew the provisional authority during the Russian Revolution.
The Russian Revolution caused major changes to Russia and its citizens’ lives. After several years of civil upheaval and brutality, the Russian Revolution laid the foundation for socialism to become a powerful political ideology worldwide. The soviet government caused major changes to Russian life and Russia in general after achieving to end the weak tsar leadership. After nationalizing the financial institutions, a Soviet Union was established to manage the economy (Brooke, 2006). Peasants were allocated farmland while providing laborers with access to industries.
In conclusion, the Russian Revolution, led by learned patriotic leaders, played an important role in overthrowing the weak aristocratic government. The socialist government laid the foundation for equal treatment of Russians regarding civil rights, national resources distribution, and allocation. Russia experienced civilization and industrialization under the socialist government, rising to the rank of the first developed country in Eastern Europe. Ultimately, revolution can be used as a tool for positive change when led by visionary leaders.
Reference
Brooke, C. (2006). Moscow: A cultural history. Oxford University Press on Demand.