The author shows that the modern ideas of revolution became primitive due to the fact that historians get excessively involved in political history and especially its main actors who supposed to act absolutely independently. It is shown that opposing popular beliefs, the behavior of the leading figures of revolutionary process depended entirely on the mood of masses with its pre-political idea of the ruling elite power. The conclusion is that the main leaders tried unsuccessfully to adjust the realities of the revolution to their own ideas of its «right» development. Eventually they became a victim of their own misunderstanding of sentiments and aspirations of masses.
Russia, revolution, counterrevolution, political regime, crisis, the opposition.