The October Revolution,[a][b] also known as the Bolshevik Coup, the Bolshevik Revolution,[2] the October Uprising, the October Coup or Red October, was a revolution in Russia led by the Bolshevik Party of Vladimir Lenin that was instrumental in the larger Russian Revolution of 1917–1923. It took place through an armed insurrection in Petrograd (now Saint Petersburg) on 25 October (Old Style, O.S.; 7 November, New Style or N.S.) 1917. It was the precipitating event of the Russian Civil War.
The October Revolution followed and capitalized on the February Revolution earlier in the year. The February Revolution had overthrown the Tsarist autocracy, resulting in a provisional government. The provisional government had taken power after being proclaimed by Grand Duke Michael, Tsar Nicholas II's younger brother, who declined to take power after the Tsar stepped down. During this time, urban workers began to organize into councils (soviets) wherein revolutionaries criticized the provisional government and its actions. The provisional government remained widely unpopular, especially because it was continuing to fight in World War I, and had ruled with an iron fist throughout the summer (including killing hundreds of protesters in the July Days).
Events came to head in the fall as the Directorate, led by the leftwing Socialist Revolutionary Party, controlled the government. The ultra-leftwing Bolsheviks were deeply unhappy with the government, and began spreading calls for a military uprising. On 10 October 1917 (O.S.; 23 October, N.S.), the Petrograd Soviet, led by Trotsky, voted to back a military uprising. On 24 October (O.S,; 6 November, N.S.) the government shut down numerous newspapers and closed the city of Petrograd in an attempt to forestall the coup; minor armed skirmishes broke out. The next day a full scale uprising erupted, as a fleet of Bolshevik sailors entered the harbor and tens of thousands of soldiers rose up in support of the Bolsheviks. Bolshevik Red Guards forces under the Military-Revolutionary Committee began the occupation of government buildings on 25 October (O.S.; 7 November, N.S.), 1917. The following day, the Winter Palace (the seat of the Provisional government located in Petrograd, then capital of Russia) was captured.
As the Revolution was not universally recognized, the country descended into civil war, which would last until 1923 and lead to the creation of the Soviet Union in late 1922. The historiography of the event has varied. The victorious Soviet Union viewed it as a validation of their ideology, and the triumph of the worker over capitalism. It was made a national holiday, marking its importance in the country's founding story. On the other hand, Western observers saw it as a totalitarian coup, which used the democratic Soviet councils only until they were no longer useful. The event inspired many cultural works, and marked the beginning of Marxism-Leninism as a global force.
>>Etymology
Despite occurring in November of the Gregorian calendar, the event is most commonly known as the "October Revolution" (Октябрьская революция) because at the time Russia still used the Julian calendar. The event is sometimes known as the "November Revolution", after the Soviet Union modernized its calendar.[3][4][5] To avoid confusion, both O.S and N.S. dates have been given for events. For more details see Old Style and New Style dates.
At first, the event was referred to as the "October Coup" (Октябрьский переворот) or the "Uprising of the 3rd," as seen in contemporary documents (for example, in the first editions of Lenin's complete works).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Revolution