3. Provisional Government and the Bolshevik Revolution

Question 1

What were the 2 groups in power of the provisional government

Answer 1

The Provisional Government: They would run the country until elections
Petrograd soviet: An elected council for the workers in Petrograd

Question 2

How did the Petrograd soviet have an advantage over the provisional government

Answer 2

• The Petrograd soviet was elected to seemed more legitimate
• The Petrograd Soviet passes the No. 1 order which gave them control over the army

Question 3

What were the mistakes of the provisional government

Answer 3

• Allowing more freedom: it allowed people to openly criticise the government
• Continuing WW1: the public were desperate to get out of the war
• Delaying reforms: only had control over cities and towns but had little power else where
• Delaying elections: They couldn’t organise elections so it was delayed and it looked like they were trying to stay in power

Question 4

What was the April Thesis

Answer 4

This was when Lenin returned to Russia and publishes his April thesis which outlined his communist vision for Russia, it called for the end of the Provisional government and land redistribution. Lenin’s slogan was Peace, Land and Bread

Question 5

Explain the events of the July days

Answer 5

• July 3-7 was a period of wide spread unrest and there were many demonstrations in Petrograd lead by workers, soldiers and sailors. The protesters demand the Bolsheviks seize power
• Lenin hesitates about a second revolution and told everyone it wasn’t the right time
• July 5-6 The Provisional Government uses force to suppress the demonstrations. 800 members of Bolshevik part were arrested and Lenin escaped to Finland

Question 6

Explain the events of the Kornilov Revolt

Answer 6

• August 25-30 General Kornilov attempts a military coup against the Provisional government
• 27 -30 August The head of the Provisional government, Kerensky calls upon the Petrograd soviet and the Bolsheviks to help defend the city, however the weapons the Bolsheviks were given to defend the city were never returned
• 30 August : Kornilovs forces fail as theBolsheviks convinced the troops to stop and Lenin returns to Russia

Question 7

What were the consequences of the Koenilov Revolt

Answer 7

It weakened the Provisional government and increased the support for the Bolsheviks

Question 8

Explain what events occurred when Lenin returned to Russia

Answer 8

• Lenin and the Bolsheviks knew the Provisional government was close the collapse
• So when Lenin secretly returns he proposes the idea of an armed takeover of police

Question 9

How was the Military Revolutionary Committee involved in the Bolshevik takeover

Answer 9

• Rumours where spread about in the Bolsheviks Planning to takeover, so Kerensky tried to send Bolshevik - influenced army units out of Petrograd
• The Petrograd Soviet claimed Kerensky was
  planning a counter attack an it got the Military Revolutionary Committee to send all the Soviet supporting soldiers into Petrograd

Question 10

How did Kerensky try to stop the Bolshevik takeover

Answer 10

• Kerensky then ordered a crackdown on the Bolshevik’s closing their newspapers, blocking river crossings between the city centre and working class districts and called for the arrest of the MRC
• In response Trotsky used the
  MRC to take control of reed road and canal bridges, army headquarters and the telegraph office.
• Kernesky searched for soldiers to defend the Provisional Government

Question 11

How did the Bolsheviks eventually seize control

Answer 11

The Red Guards (the Bolsheviks private army) seized the key areas of the city and the Bolsheviks soldiers arrested the remaining members of the Provisional Government
Lenin then formed the Bolshevik government called the council of peoples commissar’s

Question 12

How was the role of Lenin important for the Bolsheviks success

Answer 12

• Lenin thought differently from the rest of his party and managed to change their view
  → Lenins clear thinking and strong personality were important: in shaping the out come of events
  → Lenins April Theses introduced radical new ideas and gave the pro party Slogans such as “Peace, Bread and Land”
  → Lenin convinced the Bolsheviks that the time was right to seize power by for and developed the strategy to make this a success.

Question 13

How were the failures of the Provisional government important to the Bolsheviks success

Answer 13

→ The Korvilov Revolt weakened Kerensky and lost them lots of Support
→ The Provisional Government lost all control of the army and navy and could no longer use them to maintain law and order
→ The peasants seized Land all over Russia and the Provisional Government Lost support of landowners
→ The German army advanced into
Russia and the Bolsheviks used the opportunity to claim that Kerensky was planning to surrender Petrograd to the Germans .

Question 14

How was the role of Trotsky important to the success of Bolsheviks

Answer 14

• Trotsky organised the Bolshevik takeover and his clever tactics meant the troops were used effectively and there was little oppositions
• He had brilliant speeches which
  increased the support for the Bolsheviks
• Trotsky was the president of the Petrograd soviet which let the Bolsheviks control the MRC
• Trotsky set up the takeover so it looked like the Soviets were taking control of Russia not just the Bolsheviks