Why did the Revolution fail in 1905 but succeed in 1917?

Question

Any helpful sites would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

The short answer is that in 1905, Russia was not in the throws of WW1 and major famine. Despite Russia's humiliating defeat by the Japanese, the support of the revolt was lukewarm and the military was still loyal to the tsar.

By 1917, the tsarist regime was more vulnerable:

1. The war was unpopular, the western allies needed Russia to remain in the war to take pressure off the western front.
2. The peasants were promised reforms that never occurred.
3. The Bolsheviks promised "land and peace". They withdrew Russia from the war, and distributed lands to the peasants.
4. The war was unpopular with the common soldiers, who joined the revolution.

.

Answer 2

Ned makes his points well enough but it should be said that the Revolution did not Fail in 1905 it Succeeded in 1917-18, it oher words the reforms & compromises of 1905 merely slowed down the process. Russia was a stately ship with an uncertain grip on the wheel. The verdict of history is harsh. Czar Nicholas the 2nd was not the dynamic clear thinking Leader who could have seized upon the Revolution of 1905 adopted a British Modified Monarchy and achieved a heck of a lot more than he did but he didn't. And the British did not push hard enough in 1905. If only Britain had looked to the East instead of draining their energies on Africa and India. But that tale is worth another two points. The point of this essay is that the Revolution of 1905 did succeed is laid the groundwork for a possible solution an impartial solution and a solution that provided paralysis. With Czar Nicholas at the helm and the resignation of f the brilliant Sergei Witte painful paralysis set in resulting in World War One which finally weakened the State Apparatus so that total anarchy/ erupted which prompted the demand for a revolutionary solution.

Here are some links..

One of my favorites, a mere snippet of longer article
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUS1905.htm
""Industrial workers all over Russia went on strike and in October, 1905, the railwaymen went on strike which paralyzed the whole Russian railway network. Later that month, Leon Trotsky and other Mensheviks established the St. Petersburg Soviet. Over the next few weeks over 50 of these soviets were formed all over Russia.

Sergi Witte, the new Chief Minister, advised Nicholas II to make concessions. He eventually agreed and published the October Manifesto. This granted freedom of conscience, speech, meeting and association. He also promised that in future people would not be imprisoned without trial. Finally he announced that no law would become operative without the approval of a new organization called the Duma.

As this was only a consultative body, many Russians felt that this reform did not go far enough. Leon Trotsky and other revolutionaries denounced the plan. In December, 1905, Trotsky and the rest of the executive committee of the St. Petersburg Soviet were arrested.

The first meeting of the Duma took place in May 1906. Several changes in the composition of the Duma had been changed since the publication of the October Manifesto. Tsar Nicholas II had also created a State Council, an upper chamber, of which he would nominate half its members. He also retained for himself the right to declare war, to control the Orthodox Church and to dissolve the Duma. The Tsar also had the power to appoint and dismiss ministers. ""

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RussiaEvents.htm
"""The First World War had a disastrous impact on the Russian econimy. Food was in short supply and this led to rising prices. By January 1917 the price of commodities in Petrograd had increased six-fold. In an attempt to increase their wages, industrial workers went on strike and in Petrograd people took to the street demanding food. On 11th February, 1917, a large crowd marched through the streets of Petrograd breaking shop windows and shouting anti-war slogans.

The situation deteoriated on 22nd February when the owners of the Putilov Iron Works locked out its workforce after they demanded higher wages. Led by Bolshevik agitators, the 20,000 workers took to the streets. The army was ordered to disperse the demonstrations but they were unwilling to do this and in some cases the soldiers joined the protestors in demanding an end to the war.

Other workers joined the demonstrations and by 27th February an estimated 200,000 workers were on strike. Nicholas II, who was at Army Headquarters in Mogilev, ordered the commander of the Petrograd garrison to suppress "all the disorders on the streets of the capital". The following day troops fired on demonstrators in different parts of the city. Others refused to obey the order and the Pavlovsk regiment mutinied. Others regiments followed and soldiers joined the striking workers in the streets.

On 26th February Nicholas II ordered the Duma to close down. Members refused and they continued to meet and discuss what they should do. Michael Rodzianko, President of the Duma, sent a telegram to the Tsar suggesting that he appoint a new government led by someone who had the confidence of the people. When the Tsar did not reply, the Duma nominated a Provisional Government headed by Prince George Lvov.

The High Command of the Russian Army now feared a violent revolution and on 28th February suggested that Nicholas II should abdicate in favour of a more popular member of the royal family. Attempts were now made to persuade Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich to accept the throne. He refused and on the 1st March, 1917, the Tsar abdicated leaving the Provisional Government in control of the country"""

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSnovemberR.htm
""Kornilov responded by sending troops under the leadership of General Krymov to take control of Petrograd. Kerensky was now in danger and was forced to ask the Soviets and the Red Guards to protect Petrograd. The Bolsheviks, who controlled these organizations, agreed to this request, but in a speech made by their leader, Vladimir Lenin, he made clear they would be fighting against Kornilov rather than for Kerensky.

Within a few days Bolsheviks had enlisted 25,000 armed recruits to defend Petrograd. While they dug trenches and fortified the city, delegations of soldiers were sent out to talk to the advancing troops. Meetings were held and Kornilov's troops decided not to attack Petrograd. General Krymov committed suicide and Kornilov was arrested and taken into custody.

Lenin now returned to Petrograd but remained in hiding. On 25th September, Kerensky attempted to recover his left-wing support by forming a new coalition that included more Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries. However, with the Bolsheviks controlling the Soviets and now able to call on 25,000 armed militia, Kerensky's authority had been undermined.

The Bolsheviks set up their headquarters in the Smolny Institute. The former girls' convent school also housed the Petrograd Soviet. Under pressure from the nobility and industrialists, Alexander Kerensky was persuaded to take decisive action. On 22nd October he ordered the arrest of the Military Revolutionary Committee. The next day he closed down the Bolshevik newspapers and cut off the telephones to the Smolny Institute.

Leon Trotsky now urged the overthrow of the Provisional Government. Lenin agreed and on the evening of 24th October, 1917, orders were given for the Bolsheviks began to occupy the railway stations, the telephone exchange and the State Bank. The following day the Red Guards surrounded the Winter Palace. Inside was most of the country's Cabinet, although Kerensky had managed to escape from the city. """

Peace.