Good morning and welcome to The Most Interesting Thing. Explore the past to better understand the present.

Read time ~6 min

• The Red Guards Storm The Winter Palace (1917)

• Gone With the Wind Debuts (1976)

• The First Woman Holds Federal Office (1916)

• Magic Johnson Announces He Is HIV Positive (1991)

• Eleanor Roosevelt Dies at 78 (1962)

Event

Setting The Scene

Today, we’re going back 106 years to 1917, a time in which the globe was fully entangled in World War I. This was an unfortunately hard time in the history of the world, as the Spanish flu infected the global population and countries faced challenges in light of the World War. Many countries battled with inflation, food shortages, and economic strains as the war required massive resources and power. 

On the lighter side, art and culture sat at the height of the modernist movement with figures like Pablo Picasso and Marcel Duchamp making waves. Labor movements and socialist ideologies were beginning to influence many countries, such as the women’s suffrage movements in the U.S. and U.K.

Now that we know what the world is like, let’s center our attention on Petrograd, Russia, the capital now known as St. Petersburg. We’re at the peak of the Bolshevik Revolution.

As a result of Russia’s involvement in World War I, the country faced hardships that put strains on resources, manpower, and the economy. This of course made the population unhappy with the current regime, the Provisional Government, and ready to revolt. Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Bolsheviks, is about to change the course of history forever. 

What Happened?

On November 7, 1917, a powerful faction known as "The Red Guards" emerged, comprised of workers, soldiers, and sailors who were agitated amidst the social and political turmoil. Inspired by the ideas of Marxism and socialism, they embarked on a mission to seize control of key locations, with the primary target being the Winter Palace, a symbol of the autocratic rule of the Russian monarchy.

The Red Guards, determined and driven by the desire for change, launch a well-coordinated assault on the palace, facing off against the defenders in a fierce and dramatic battle. Through a combination of strategic planning, determination, and sheer numbers, they managed to breach the defenses of the Winter Palace.

This fall of the Winter Palace signified not only a military victory but also a symbolic triumph of the working class over the monarchy.

Impact

The Revolution left a profound impact on Russia and the world, ultimately leading to the formation of the Soviet Union. The USSR would go on to become a major world power and the center of the communist ideology. The Red Army would rise, reshaping the course of history and leaving a legacy that continues to influence political and ideological discussion today.

What else happened?

Culture

• John Lennon meets his future wife Yoko Ono at an art exposition in London. (1966)

• “Gone With The Wind”, the 1939 Oscar-winning film, makes its television debut on NBC, racking up 65% of viewers nationwide. (1976)

• NASA launches the Mars Global Surveyor in efforts to carry out a long-term study of the planet. (1996)

U.S. Politics

• Thomas Nast releases his political cartoon in Harper’s Weekly, the first time the Republican party would be represented by an elephant. (1874)

• Jeannette Rankin of Montana becomes the first woman to hold federal office in the U.S. after being elected to the House of Representatives. (1916)

• Presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore comes up inconclusive. Bush would go on to win by way of the Supreme Court. (2000)

Sports

• Voters in Pennsylvania overturn the blue law, which made it a crime to play football or baseball on Sundays. (1933)

• Glenn Hall sets an NHL record for consecutive games as a goalie at 502, eventually ending at 552. (1962)

• Magic Johnson retires from the LA Lakers after announcing he is HIV positive. (1991)

Birthdays

• Marie Curie (1876)

• Jean Shrimpton (1942)

• Joni Mitchell (1943)

Deaths

• Eleanor Roosevelt (1962)

• Steve McQueen (1980)

• Joe Frazier (2011)