I.

Introduction

Russian Revolution, political upheaval in imperial Russia culminating in 1917 with the establishment of the world’s first self-proclaimed communist state, later the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922-1991). Two distinct political revolutions resulted in a rapid change of regimes in 1917. The first, which began on March 8 to 12, 1917 (February 23 to 27 in the Julian, or Old Style, calendar, then in use in Russia), overthrew the autocratic monarchy; it is frequently called the February Revolution. The second, an armed insurrection on November 6 and 7 (October 24 and 25), organized by the Bolshevik Party against the Provisional Government, brought a Soviet regime to power, and it is usually designated the Bolshevik, or October, Revolution. The political revolutions of 1917 were accompanied by a peasant revolution in the Russian countryside. Additionally, the imperial Russian state included many nationalities which sought greater autonomy or independence during the upheaval. The Russian Revolution saw a major re-casting of Russia’s relationship with its closest neighbours. (The Gregorian calendar was adopted by the Soviet government on January 31, 1918; all references to dates in this article are made in accordance with the new calendar.)