Exploring the importance of the Revolutions of 1917 in bringing about the rise of a single-party state in Russia.

             Exploring the importance of the Revolutions of 1917 in bringing about the rise of a single-party state in Russia.
             "No real social change has ever been brought about without a revolution.... Revolution is but thought carried into action (Emma Goldman, Anarchism 1917)." The people of Russia were struggling before the period of 1917 with massive discontent, the revolutionary movement, and World War I. Whether the revolution was inevitable, historians can not agree but under these factors, the country was ripe for a political, economic, and social change. Thus came the abdication of Nicholas II in the March Revolution and the rise of a very unstable provisional government. The instability was aided by the two seats of power: the provisional government and the Petrograd Soviet, out of which rose the opposition that would inevitably bring the provisional government down. Returning from exile in April 1917, Lenin, with his party the Bolsheviks, began a strategy of revolution, a complete political change for the starving people of Russia. In November of 1917, the Bolsheviks revolted and thus b!
             egan a new political wave of turmoil for Russia.
             To truly understand why Russia stood on the brink of revolution, the historical background of this dynamic country must be explored. One of the key historical changes that helped to form a revolutionary atmosphere in Russia was the emancipation of the serfs on March 3, 1861 by Alexander II. Basically, the serfs were given land allotments (through a redemption tax) that proved to be inadequate in the long run. The former serfs maintained their stasis as second-class citizens and were denied full access to regular courts. As Russia shifted from a serf-based economy, other reforms were needed to make the economy more stable. In 1864, A local elected government, called zemstvos, was instituted. The zemstvos were given responsibility for matters of education, health and welfare. The s...

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