3. Opposition to the Provisional Government Flashcards
What did the liberals want to do about WW1?
Liberals wanted to continue the war to ensure Russian victory. Milyukov’s appointment as Foreign Minister and Guchkov’s appointment as Minister for War clearly displayed the 1st PG’s commitment to fighting the war.
What did the Bolsheviks want to do about WW1?
From 1914 to 1918 Bolsheviks and some SRs argued for the war to end. For Lenin the WW1 was an imperialist war, which sacrificed the lives of working people in order to provide more land and resources to make capitalists rich. They campaigned for ‘democratic peace’ in 1917.
What did the Mensheviks want to do about WW1?
Adopted a policy known as ‘revolutionary defencism’. They argued that the workers had a duty to keep fighting to defend the revolution.
What led to the Milyukov crisis?
In April 1917, the PG and the PS reached an agreement on the aims of the war, adopting ‘revolutionary defencism’. Milyukov believed this was a feeble policy which failed to take advantage of the opportunity to win the war that the fall of the Tsar had created. Milyukov sent a telegram to Britain and France a telegram which committed Russia to fighting.
What did the telegram lead to?
As it was a direct betrayal of the ‘Declaration of War Aims’ so soldiers and workers began to go on protest marches demanding Milyukov’s resignation, while the Bolsheviks demanded the overthrow of the PG.
What were the consequences of the crisis?
Milyukov resigned on 2nd May. But his telegram had seriously undermined faith in the honesty of the PG. In order to reestablish trust between the PG and PS, Prince Lvov invited 6 leading Soviet members to join the PG.
What was the impact of Lvov’s invitation on the SRs and Mensheviks?
In May, some soldiers and workers lost faith in the SRs and Mensheviks as they believed they had entered an alliance with an untrustworthy capitalist dominated government.
What was the significance of the debate about WW1?
It split the SRs and the Mensheviks between those who supported revolutionary defencism and those who wanted an end to the war. As the war dragged on it created economic chaos and hardship, so therefore the Bolsheviks became popular as they alone were united in their desire for peace.
Why was Lenin’s return to Russia significant?
In March, all marxist and socialists
What were the April theses?
Aside from ‘all power to the Soviets’, the April theses contain three major slogans that Lenin laid out when he returned:
. Peace - appealed to war weary soldiers and workers and peasants who had suffered due to the war.
. Land - appealed to Russia peasants who wanted the revolution to lead land reform, and who, over time, had become frustrated at the PG’s refusal to redistribute land.
. Bread - promised an end to the hardship of the war.
What impact did Lenin’s return have?
Initially it had little impact. Many marxists believed Lenin was out of touch with the situation in Russia, some even thought he’d gone mad. However they did attract some revolutionaries such as Trotsky, who had previously opposed the Bolsheviks.
What was the June Offensive?
After Milyukov resigned, Kerensky was appointed Minister of War. He was determined to bring about an allied victory and reinstate the authority of the PG, so he launched the June Offensive. Kerensky toured the front lines encouraging soldiers to support the attack. But it was a disaster as German reinforcements strengthened Austro-Hungarian troops. And 48 Russian battalions refused to fight. Over 150,000 Russians died and even more deserted the front line.
What were the consequences of the June Offensive?
June Offensive weakened the PG as it made them look ineffective. There was also criticism of how the bourgeois PG had sent workers and soldiers to their deaths, while factory and landowners stayed safely out of combat. It also weakened the SRs and Mensheviks as they had joined the PG in May, promising to work to bring about peace and yet they immediately got involved in the new Offensive, an action seen as hypocritical.
What caused the July days?
Military defeat and disillusionment with the PG led to a new political crisis. On the 3rd of July, Kadet ministers resigned from the PG, provoking a military uprising.
What happened during the July days?
Around 70,000 soldiers and armed workers surrounded the Tauride Palace in Petrograd - where the PG and PS were housed. The protesters (supported by the Bolsheviks) demanded that the PS seize power. Leaders of the PS refused and Lenin too backed down once the PG sent troops to resist the uprising. PG forces tried to disperse the protestors - leading to 2 days of riots.
What were the impacts of the July days?
Leaders of the PG announced that the Bolshevik party was a threat to the stability of Russia. On July 6, soldiers surrounded the Bolshevik HQ and 500 Bolsheviks surrendered. The PG started a propaganda campaign, accusing Lenin of being a German spy. Lenin fled to Finland.
