3. February To October 1917

Question 0

How did the PG make a mistake by allowing political freedoms?

Answer 0

With political freedoms the public were able to criticise the government more openly.

Question 1

What were the problems with the groups that were in the Provisional Government?

Answer 1

It consisted mainly of the Octobrist and Kadet parties. No members from the Menshevik or Bolsheviks parties were in the PG. As a result these groups formed a rival power base in the Petrograd government, forming a dual government, making it harder to make clear decisions and create an effective government.

Question 2

In June 1917 what did the Petrograd Soviet change its name too and what else did the do at this time?

Answer 2

Changed name to the All-Russia Soviet. Claimed the right to make laws for Russia, first being ‘Order No.1’- undermining the authority of military officers. It also stated that any orders from the PG to the military had to be confirmed by the Petrograd Soviet.

Question 3

Key characteristics of the Soviet and its opposition?

Answer 3

The Soviet was dominated by left wing political groups such as the SR’s and Bolsheviks. This made it become rivals with the PG. Both the Soviet and PG were very inefficient due to any theory having to be approved by both sides.

Question 4

What Impact did WW1 have on the Provisional Government? March-October 1917

Answer 4

Britain and France informed the LG that loans would only continue providing Russia stayed in the war. So,e member believed Russia should stay in the war. Paul Milyukov argued Russia’s future was with France and England.

Question 5

How was support for the War during the PG’s control?

Answer 5

Initially Russian military morale improved,however poor supplies and continued economic problems reversed this. March 1917 Russia declared that only a defensive war would continue- the hope being that Russia could gain losses territory and expand borders after gaining victory. In April 1917 demonstrations in Petrograd became more frequent.

Question 6

Who was Paul Milyukov?

Answer 6

Paul Milyukov was the Russian Foreign Minister from 1917. Also from 1905 he was the Kadets leader (liberal group). He oppose dth e autocratic power of the Tsar.

Question 7

What was the Role of Alexander Kerensky during WW1 following the abdication of the Tsar?

Answer 7

Became the Prime Minister (member of SR’s) in Russia July 1917.
In order to win support the PG supported the June offensive, however it failed and mass desertions were the result, also with a drop in morale. In July mass protests against the war increased. Kerensky had connections to both the PG and the Soviet. After becoming Prime Minister he failed to solve the problems.

Question 8

What was the response to the PG and the war in the countryside?

Answer 8

The PG exerted control in major cities such as Moscow, but influence in rural areas was limited. Peasants began to seize land from large landowners, which the PG couldn’t prevent. Political, social and economic chaos ensued. The army couldn’t be relied upon to prevent this.

Question 9

Who were the ‘proletariat’ ?

Answer 9

A term by Karl Marx to describe the industrial working classes.

Question 10

Who was Lenin and what was his background?

Answer 10

Lenin was a Marxist. He knew that the majority of Russia were peasants and an industrial working class revolution across Russia was impossible. He argued the revolution would need to be carried out by a small number of disciplined revolutionaries- causing the split of the Social Democratic Party in 1903. Arguably without Lenin there wouldn’t have been the Revolution in 1917.

Question 11

Explain why Lenin was exiled and why he returned?

Answer 11

Lenin did not expect to be exiled in March 1917 by the Tsar, which occurred due to the Tsar removing political opposition. The German government supported his return to Russia in April 1917 as he opposed the involvement of a Russia in WW1.

Question 12

What was the April Thesis and what did it include?

Answer 12

A document produced by Lenin upon his return from exile demanding immediate social revolution. In the document the promise of ‘Peace, Land and Bread’ was made clear, along with ‘All Power To The Soviet’. It was designed to gain support for the Bolsheviks.

Question 13

What was the response to the April Thesis and what did Lenin say to evoke this response?

Answer 13

Many people opposed the war so the promise of Peace,Land and Bread attracted support. It emphasised the failure of the PG to redistribute land. Also he argued that the PG was influenced heavily by the middle class and wealthy land owners. He argued that the Soviets should govern Russia and the PG should be removed.

Question 14

How was the April Thesis supported by the Bolsheviks and what was the impact of this?

Answer 14

21st April- Lenin sent Bolsheviks to factories in Petrograd to gain support- limited impact though, no masse strikes.
Many Russian Marxist believed Russia wasn’t ready for a communist revolution.
Lenin’s leadership was a threat to the PG.

Question 15

What was the June Offensive and how did it benefit the Bolsheviks?

Answer 15

Before the July days the Bolsheviks had made little progress in gaining power. It only had 10’000 members. However, when the PG supported the offensive against the Austro-Hungarians in June support for the Bolsheviks grew. Troops remained loyal to the PG and the Bolsheviks attempt to gain power failed, however support grew.

Question 16

What were the July Days?

Answer 16

Between 3rd-6th demonstrations in Petrograd across Russia, caused by the failure of the June Offensive, food shortages and economic chaos. The Soldiers and Sailors of the Kronstadt naval base helped attempted to bring down the PG. July 4th was the height of the protest (50’000) all looking to Lenin for direction while surrounding the Tauride Palace. He failed to fully exploit the situation.

Question 17

What was the Tauride Palace?

Answer 17

Headquarters for the Soviet.

Question 18

How were the Kronstadt sailors and soldiers significant during the July Days?

Answer 18

Soldiers and sailors from the Kronstadt naval base organised and armed demonstration to bring down the PG. They protested outside the Merinsky Palace, headquarters for the PG.

Question 19

What was the Kshesinskaia Palace?

Answer 19

Headquarters for the Bolsheviks.

Question 20

How did the PG attempt to relinquish the Bolshevik threat?

Answer 20

Although the Bolsheviks didn’t have to majority in the Petrograd Soviet their influence was growing. The PG and Soviet urged protestors to stop protesting. Loyal troops from outside Petrograd were also brought in to restore order. On July 6 soldiers surrounded the Bolsheviks headquarters, all 500 surrendered. The demonstrations collapsed and Lenin was accused of being a German spy, causing him to flee to Finland.

Question 21

What was the Kornilov Affair in 1917?

Answer 21

After the June offensive failure Korensky was made Prime Minister and brought back the death penalty. General Kornilov became the new Commander-In-Cheif. On 24th March he decided to March with reliable troops to restore order for the PG. Kerensky believed he Kornilov was trying to remove him. In response Kerensky provided weapons to the Red Guard and released Bolshevik prisoners giving them weapons. Kornilov kept marching but his troops left him. He was arrested on September 1st.

Question 22

What were the consequences of the Kornilov Affair?

Answer 22

The PG was weakened. Support for the All-Russia Soviet increased. Kerensky lost support from right and left wing political parties. Discipline in the armed forces reduced even more. Provided the Bolsheviks with weapons and the opportunity to seize power. Bolsheviks won the majority in the Petrograd Soviet.

Question 23

What were the significant steps that enabled the start of the October Revolution 1917? (Long one)

Answer 23

Lenin placed more emphasis on Peace, Land and Bread. Kornilov Revolt convinced many workers commuters were planning a military dictatorship. Lenin encouraged the establishment of 41 Bolshevik newspapers. Bolsheviks established the Red Guards and gained weapons from Korensky. PG announced new Constituent Assembly would be elected in November, which Lenin new the SR’s would win, meaning he needed to gain power before then. By the end of September the Bolsheviks had the majority in the Petrograd Soviet. Lenin secretly returned to Petrograd (October 10) persuading the Bolshevik Central Committee to support and armed seizure of power in Petrograd. Zinoviev and Kamenev remained against this and advocated the dual government.

Question 24

What was the Role of Trotsky in the October Revolution of 1917?

Answer 24

Responsibility of coup given to him. He became the Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet in September and in charge of the Military Revolutionary Committee in October. The plan to take over the PG was made by Trotsky and it was successful on 25-26 October.

Question 25

How was the Petrograd Soviet Military Revolution Committee significant in the takeover of lower in October 1917?

Answer 25

Trotsky used the organisation to take over the PG and claimed he was acting on behalf of the Petrograd Soviet.

Question 26

What was the ‘Storming of the Winter Palace’ 1917?

Answer 26

Evening of 24 October the Red Guards (Bolshevik control) occupied important areas and building in Petrograd. Soldiers who previously supported the PG showed little resistance. Trotsky and the Red Guards arrested most the PG based in the Palace. Kerensky fled the Palace with support of the American Embassy and hoped to gain support of loyal troops to crush the Bolsheviks.

Question 27

What was the legacy of the Provisional Government?

Answer 27

There was little support for the provisional government in Petrograd mainly due to their failure to sort out the food shortages and redistribution of land. Kerensky managed to gain support from the Cossacks and returned to overthrow the Bolsheviks on 28 October, however they were defeated by the Red Guards.

Question 28

What was the Bolshevik support like in Petrograd and other Major cities?

Answer 28

Rising food prices and shortages, especially after the July days, increased support due to the promises the Bolsheviks were making. It is noteworthy that the general population would have supported any party that provided solutions to problems and improved the economy. Feb-10’000 member, Sep- 300’000. This doesn’t not mean the majority of the population supported them.

Question 29

What was the Bolshevik support like in the countryside?

Answer 29

In the countryside the majority of people were peasants and the favoured political party was the SR’s who focused policies on helping the peasants. Bolsheviks support was the industrial working class who were vastly outnumbered by peasants. However by October many peasants became disillusioned by the SR’s and Mensheviks who were linked with the PG.

Question 30

What was the Bolshevik support like in the army?

Answer 30

After the Kornilov Revolt the relationship between the army and PG deteriorated, by October many soldiers refused orders. The Russian army was collapsing. When the Bolsheviks seized power in 1917 many soldiers saw them as an effective alternative, increasing support.

Question 31

What were the weaknesses of other parties during the October Revolution in 1917?

Answer 31

The Kadets (majority of PG) failed to gain support- peasants often saw them as serving the interests of the propertied class. Mensheviks had widespread support among the workers and the SR’s had wide support among the peasants but neither had a clear strategy to gain power. After the July Days the Mensheviks and SR’s were closely linked to the failing PG. Mensheviks failed to support the Soviet Government, crucial failure.

Question 32

Name two key phrases used by Lenin that helped him gain power…

Answer 32

‘Land, Labour and Bread’
‘ALL POWER TO THE SOOOOVIET’ - used to make it seem that the soviets were taking over, rather than the reality that Lenin was leading to a communist dictatorship.