by Ingrid Chan
There are both short term and long term consequences of the October Revolution 1917. Bellow is an explanation of the negative impacts, which are the consequences of the October Revolution.
There are both short term and long term consequences of the October Revolution 1917. Bellow is an explanation of the negative impacts, which are the consequences of the October Revolution.
Short Term Consequences
Russian Constituent Assembly elections (political consequence) - 1917
The Russian Constituent Assembly is the constitutional body of Russia, with 707 seats, that was organised after the October Revolution 1917. The assembly was established in 1917 and dissolved in 1918 by the VTsIK (All-Russian Central Executive Committee). After the overthrow of the provisional government, the elections of the Russian Constituent Assembly was organised and being held on 25th November 1917. The Bolshevik Party, who had gained power through the October Revolution 1917, believed that they were capable of leading the Russian Constituent Assembly as they have the power and support from the Soviets. However, the results of the election were that the Socialist Revolutionary Party won almost double the votes of the Bolshevik Party. The votes made it clear that the Socialist Revolutionary Party would lead Russian Constituent Assembly. However, before the Socialist Revolutionary Party split up (Right Socialist Revolutionary Party and Left Socialist Revolutionary Party), the votes for the Socialist Revolutionary Party increased, giving most of the votes to the Right Socialist Revolutionary Party and leaving out the Left Revolutionary Party. Therefore, the leader of the Right Socialist Revolutionary Party, Victor Chernov, took the position of Chairman of the Russian Constituent Assembly. The elections of the Russian Constituent Assembly has put a negative impact to the political system of Russia. As Chernov, the leader of the Right Socialist Revolutionary Party, was elected as the Chairman of the Russian Constituent Assembly, the assembly was dominated by the Right Socialist Revolutionary Party. The Right Socialist Revolutionary Party felt that they were not ready for a Soviet power. Therefore, the Russian Constituent Assembly, which is dominated by the Right Socialist Revolutionary Party, opposed against the Soviet government and did not allow new elections to be organised, thus putting a negative impact on the political system of Russia. Set up of the Cheka (social consequence) - 20th December 1917 Although the Cheka may prevent political conflicts within the country by making sure that there is no opposition against the government or political ideology, the techniques that the Cheka uses to prevent political opposition puts a negative social impact on the society. The Cheka has killed thousands of people in Russia who opposed against the government, which affects the lives of the citizens in Russia and takes away their right to express their views on the political system of Russia. However, this is a short term impact as the Cheka was only used to prevent any opposition against the government for a period of time. Russian Civil War (social) - (November 1917 - October 1922) The Russian Civil War may have led to establishment of the Soviet Union, which benefits the citizens of Russia, however, the war has killed thousands of people which negatively affects the people and the society of Russia. The more people are killed, there will be less people in the society, meaning that there will be less people working in the society. This leads to smaller a contribution to the society as less people are working for the society. In addition, it also affects how the system of the society works. |
Russian Constituent Assembly Election results (1917)
Members of the Cheka in 1921
Anti-Bolshevik Volunteer Army (January 1918)
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Long Term Consequences
Rise of Stalin (political and social)
In 1922, Lenin named Stalin the General Secretary of the Soviet Union due to the fact that he contributed well during the Red Army Invasion of Georgia. As Lenin suffered his first stroke in 1922, Stalin would visit him. However, there were fights between Lenin and Stalin. With that, Lenin wrote his own testament that criticised Stalin's political views, "rude manners, excessive power and ambition". In Lenin's testament, he suggested that Stalin should be removed as General Secretary of the Soviet Union. However, Lenin's testament did not stop Stalin from gaining power in the Soviet Union. Stalin formed allies with members in the Politburo and used them to make him grow stronger in the Politburo and Soviet Union. By October in 1926, Zinoviev and Kamenev, two former allies of Stalin, were removed from the Politburo. Trotsky was also removed from the Politburo in 1927 as he became weaker than Stalin. As Stalin's power grew bigger, he became the dictator of the Soviet Union. The rise of Stalin's power impacted the Soviet Union by changing the union "from a peasant society to a industrial and military superpower society", which put a bad impact on the citizens of Russia. The change Stalin made to the Soviet Union gave citizens of Russia a negative impact. Stalin in power (political and social) After Stalin took control of the Soviet Union, he created plans to change the system of the Soviet Union. His plans focuses on the government control over the economy of Russia, which also included the control over farms in Russia. Farmers refused to cooperate with Stalin. In that case, they were shot or exiled as their punishment for opposing against Stalin. The government control over farms for the collectivisation of Soviet agriculture caused millions of citizens in Russia to starve and eventually die. Stalin ruled the Soviet Union in a totalitarian way so that he could eliminate anyone who opposed against him. Stalin taking control over the Soviet Union has put a negative impact on the citizens and the whole Soviet Union. Millions of citizens get tortured or killed due to Stalin's over-powering control over the union. Their lives has negatively changed in comparison to when Lenin was in power before Stalin. This is a long term impact due to Stalin starting to grow and develop his power ever since he was being positioned as General Secretary of the Soviet Union at the first place by Lenin. |
Joseph Stalin
Propaganda poster of Stalin
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