October Revolution facts for kids
The October Revolution refers to the seizing of power in Russia by the Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin and Leon Trotsky. The Bolsheviks overthrew the Russian Provisional Government. The revolution started on November 7 (October 25 o.s.), 1917.
In reality the Bolshevik insurgents faced little or no opposition. The insurrection was timed and organized to hand state power to the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, which began on 25 October. After a single day of revolution eighteen people had been arrested and two had been killed. The Bolsheviks captured telegraph and telephone offices, railway stations, newspaper offices and government institutions. The insurrection was carried out by Red Guards (armed workers), sailors from the Baltic fleet, and revolutionary sections of the army.
The October Revolution inspired a revolutionary wave across the world, including the Hungarian revolution, the German revolution of 1918-1919, and the Chinese revolution of 1925-27.
Images for kids
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Red Guard unit of the Vulkan factory in Petrograd, October 1917
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The New York Times headline from 9 November 1917
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A scene from the July Days. The army has just opened fire on street protesters.
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Cruiser Aurora
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Petrograd Milrevcom proclamation about the deposing of the Russian Provisional Government
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Anniversary of October Revolution in Riga, Soviet Union in 1988
See also
In Spanish: Revolución de Octubre para niños
