Peasant generation of the “revolutionary turning point”: beginning of its formation

Abstract

Importance. The study of “revolutionary turning point” generation allows to penetrate into the inner world of people of revolution and civil war era. Of particular interest is the initial stage of formation of representatives of this generation, which occurred during the first revolution of 1905–1907. Research methods. Of all the groups of youth, peasant youth is the least studied – in considerable part due to the limited source base. The formulation of conclusions and observations is possible only on the basis of a representative database on the social activity of peasants and sources of personal origin. Analytical and historical-statistical methods were used in the research. Results and Discussion. On the basis of a complete collection of sources on the Orenburg goevernorate and its analysis, it became possible to challenge the opinion about the universality of statements common in the literature about the increase in the consciousness of peasant youth and the manifestation of intergenerational conflicts in the period under review. At the same time, the facts indicate the beginning of this process. Conclusion. The observations made do not pretend to be universal, but allow us to imagine the similarity of the conditions and capabilities of the governorate under review with other, also adjacent ones. Large territories, weak communications, along with other characteristic features of the outskirts created additional difficulties for the political education of rural youth. Therefore, the manifestations of peasant activity are valuable not only and not so many cases, but by fixing qualitative changes in the peasant consciousness. The study of the views of peasant youth during the revolution and the Civil War requires an appeal to the beginning of such formation.