Russian Republic
The Russian Republic, officially the Russian Democratic Federal Republic, was a short-lived state that existed from 1917 to 1918. It replaced the former Russian Empire, and was the last non-communist unified Russian nation before the beginning of the Russian Civil War. It was created by the Russian Provisional Government in 1917, another short-lived state that replaced the Russian Empire. While the Bolsheviks had removed the government of the Republic, there would be one more attempt to recreate the Russian Republic in 1918, which ended in the Bolsheviks once again removing the government, a day later.
Russian Republic (1917–1918) Российская Республика Russian Democratic Federal Republic (1918) Российская Демократическая Федеративная Республика | |
|---|---|
| 1917–1918 | |
 | |
| 'Anthem: | |
| ' | |
 Under control shortly before the Bolshevik Revolution | |
| Capital and largest city | Petrograd |
| Common languages | Russian |
| Demonym(s) | Russian |
| Government | Federal republic under a provisional government |
| Minister-Chairman | |
• September–November 1917 | Alexander Kerensky[a] |
• 1917–1918 | none[b] |
Chairman of the Constituent Assembly | |
• 18–19 January 1918 | Viktor Chernov |
| Legislature | Provisional Council (1917) none (1917–1918) Constituent Assembly[c] (1918) |
| Historical era | World War I / Russian Revolution |
| 8–16 March 1917 | |
• | 14 September 1917 |
| 7 November 1917 | |
| 25 November 1917 | |
• Constitution adopted | 18 January 1918 |
• | 19 January 1918 |
| Currency | Ruble |
History
After the February Revolution, Nicholas II resigned from the throne as Tsar of the Russian Empire, and a provisional government was formed. This provisional government was semi-democratic (with power split between the Bolsheviks and the provisional government), however had a very fragile government. In July 1917, the then leader of the Republic, Georgy Lvov resigned after not being able to gain the support of the Russian people. Lavr Kornilov gained control of the Republic, and created another provisional government. Bolshevik forces would remove the government in charge of the Republic in November 1917, but the government continued to de jure exist until January 1918.
The Meeting of the Assembly
On January 18, 1918, one the only meeting of the Constituent Assembly was held in Petrograd (modern day Saint Petersburg). [1]
- The Vote: The Bolsheviks were not very popular with the people of the Assembly. They instead favored the Socialist Revolutionary Party.
- The Declaration: At the beginning of the following morning the Assembly enacted a law that stated Russia as a Democratic Federal Republic.
- The Break-up: At approximately 4:00 AM the guards (loyal to the Bolsheviks) informed the representatives to depart since the guard is fatigued. The next day the delegates attempted to reenter the building, but it was secured, and Bolsheviks formally abolished the government.
How the Republic was supposed to work
The delegates were big in their plans towards the new country.[2] According to their laws:
- Democracy: People are free to vote in the age of 20 and above.
- Federation: Russia would consist of a union of regions and not one central power.
- Land Reform: This would give away all land belonging to the rich nobles to the peasants at free will.
- Peace: The government desired to terminate the role of Russia in World War I.
Why it is important
Although it was less than a day, the RDFR was the final attempt of transforming Russia into a multi-party democracy until the formation of the Soviet Union. Since the Bolsheviks halted the democratic government, a prolonged and bloody Russian Civil War commenced.[3]
Important People
- Viktor Chernov: The Chairman (leader) of the Constituent Assembly.
- Vladimir Lenin: The leader of the Bolsheviks who ordered the Assembly to be closed.
Russian Republic Media
Coat of arms of Russia - Provisional Government, 1917
State Anthem of The Russian Republic (The Worker's Marseillaise is a Russian revolutionary song).
Notes
- ↑ Served as the prime minister of the provisional government from July 1917
- ↑ De facto power seized by the Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin
- ↑ Dissolved after the very first meeting
- ↑ The twilight of democratic Russia in 1918 (in en). eng.lsm.lv. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
- ↑ Security Check. www.prlib.ru. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
- ↑ The twilight of democratic Russia in 1918 (in en). eng.lsm.lv. Retrieved 2026-03-20.