Revolutions, as a way to influence a radical change in the existing order, begin to excite progressive minds from the end of the 18th century. As a rule, the main revolutions, called great ones, marked the transition from a monarchical form of government to a republican one. This type of coup d'état is associated with numerous victims. All known examples of revolution are a tragic part of the history of any country. Let's analyze the most popular coups and try to answer the question of whether the deaths of people who gave their lives for an idea were in vain or not.
Revolution: definition of the concept
First of all, it is necessary to define the term "revolution", because it is not just a transformation, but a radical change, characterized by transience. In general, this concept belongs not only to history. There are revolutions in science (some important discovery), in nature (a sharp change in some parameters, most often geological), in social development (industrial or cultural revolution).
This process should be distinguished from those similar in results, but different in methods and timing. Thus, the term "evolution" means gradual, very slowchange. The reform process is a little faster, but it does not have the effect of lightning speed, and the changes are not so significant.
It is necessary to distinguish between the terms "revolution" and "coup d'état". Etymologically, they are related, because revolutio is translated from Latin and means “revolution”. However, the concept of revolution is more extensive, it refers to changes in all aspects of public life, while a coup d'état, in fact, is just a change in the power of one ruler to another.
Causes of revolutions
Why do revolutionary movements arise? What pushes people to get involved in such a tragic event that claims thousands of lives?
The reasons are dictated by many factors:
- Dissatisfaction of the bureaucracy and the elite with the decline in economic flows. Occurs against the backdrop of economic decline.
- Internal struggle between elites. It so happens that the upper strata of society are rather closed structures, sometimes dividing power. This fight could turn into a real rebellion if any of the elites enlist the support of the people.
- Revolutionary mobilization. Public unrest caused by the discontent of all sections of society - from the elite to the very bottom.
- Ideology. Must underpin any revolution that has a claim to success. The center may be a civic position, religious teaching, or something else. The common will be the fight against injustice committed by the current government and the state system.
- Positive dynamics in foreign policy. Allied countries refuse to accept and support the existing government.
Thus, if these five points are present, the revolution can be considered successful. Examples of revolutions make it clear that not all five points are always observed, but most take place in such an unstable environment.
The specifics of Russian revolutions
Dramatic changes in the socio-economic order are characteristic of many states. Examples of revolution can be found in almost every European country, in the United States. However, nowhere did it bring such tragic consequences as in Russia. Here, every Russian revolution could abolish not only the state system, but the country itself. What are the reasons?
Firstly, the special relationship between the rungs of the hierarchical ladder. There was no “coupling” between them, the power and the elite existed completely separately from the people. Hence - too high economic demands of the authorities to the lower strata, most of which were below the poverty line. The problem was not in the excessive self-interest of the upper strata, but in the impossibility to trace the life of the “lower classes” due to the imperfect control apparatus. All this led to the fact that the "top" of power had to subjugate the people by force.
Secondly, the advanced intelligentsia, hatching revolutionary ideas, imagined the subsequent device too utopian due to insufficient management experience.
You should also take into account the peculiarities of the mentality of a Russian person, who is able to endure harassment for a long time, and then"explode" at once.
All these features became the springboard for the formed Bolshevism, which the Russian revolution led to.
1905: First Revolution
The first revolution in Russia happened in January 1905. It was not very fast, because it ended only in June 1907.
The prerequisites were the decline in the economy and industrial pace, crop failure, accumulated to a huge public debt (the war with Turkey is to blame for this). Reformation was required everywhere: from local administration to changes in the state system. After the abolition of serfdom, the industrial management system required revision. The work of the peasants was poorly motivated, because there was mutual responsibility, communal lands and the constant reduction of allotments.
It should be noted that the revolution of 1905 received good funding from the outside: during the war with Japan, sponsors of terrorist and revolutionary organizations appeared.
This rebellion swept through all sections of Russian society - from the peasantry to the intelligentsia. The revolution was called upon to cut off any remnants of the feudal-serf system, to strike a blow at the autocracy.
Results of the revolution of 1905-1907
Unfortunately, the revolution of 1905 was suppressed, it entered the annals of history as incomplete, but it led to important changes:
- Gave an impetus to Russian parliamentarism: this government body was established.
- The emperor's power was limited by creatingState Duma.
- According to the Manifesto of October 17, democratic freedoms are given to citizens.
- The situation and working conditions of workers have changed for the better.
- Peasants have become less attached to their land.
February Revolution in 1917
The February Revolution of 1917 was a continuation of the events of 1905-1907. Not only the lower strata (workers, peasants), but also the bourgeoisie are disappointed in the autocracy. These sentiments were greatly exacerbated by the imperialist war.
As a result of the coup, significant changes are taking place in public administration. The revolution of 1917 was bourgeois-democratic in character. However, she had a special identity. If we take examples of a revolution of the same direction in European countries, we will see that the working force was the driving force in them, and the monarchical system that preceded capitalist relations was overthrown (they began to develop immediately after the change of statehood). Moreover, the working people were the engine of the process, but the power passed to the bourgeoisie.
In the Russian Empire, everything was different: along with the provisional government, headed by people from the upper class of the bourgeoisie, there is an alternative government - the Soviets, formed from the class of workers and peasants. Such a dual power existed until the events of October.
The main result of the February 1917 revolution was the arrest of the royal family and the overthrow of the autocracy.
The October Revolution in 1917
Examples of revolution in Russia are undoubtedly led by the Great October Socialist Revolution. It radically turned the course not only of the history of Russia, but also of the world. After all, one of its results is a way out of the imperialist war.
The essence of the revolution-coup was as follows: the Provisional Government was removed, and power in the country passed to the Bolsheviks and the Left SRs. The coup was led by V. I. Lenin.
As a result, there was a redistribution of political forces: the power of the proletariat became supreme, the lands were given to the peasants, and the factories under the control of the workers. There was also a sad, tragic outcome of the revolution - a civil war that split society into two warring fronts.
Revolutionary movement in France
Just like in the Russian Empire, in France the movement to overthrow the autocracy consisted of several stages, the country went through its great revolutions. In total, there were 4 of them in its history. The movement began in 1789 with the French Revolution.
During this coup, it was possible to overthrow the absolute monarchy and establish the First Republic. However, the resulting revolutionary-terrorist Jacobin dictatorship could not last long. Her reign ended with another coup in 1794.
The revolution in July 1830 is called "Three Glorious Days". It installed the liberal monarch Louis Philippe I, the "citizen king", who finally abolished the king's invariable right to adoptlaws.
The Revolution of 1848 establishes the Second Republic. It happened because Louis Philippe I gradually began to move away from the original liberal convictions. He abdicates. The revolution of 1848 allowed the country to hold democratic elections, during which the people (including workers and other "lower" strata of society) chose Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, the nephew of the famous emperor.
The third republic, which forever put an end to the monarchical way of society, took shape in France in September 1870. After a protracted crisis of power, Napoleon III decides to surrender (then there was a war with Prussia). The decapitated country holds urgent elections. Power passes alternately from the monarchists to the republicans, and only in 1871 does France legally become a presidential republic, where the ruler elected by the people is in power for 3 years. Such a country existed until 1940.
