5- The October Revolution 1917 Flashcards
Why did the Bolsheviks have a majority in both Petrograd and Moscow soviets?
Less soviets were attending the meetings due to preparation for November Elections (e.g. in first few months after the Feb Revolution, 3000 deputies were attending meetings, but by 1917, attendance was often down to a few hundred)
What was the result of the Bolsheviks having a majority in government?
They were able to exert an influence in government, and were easily able to voted as a ‘legitimate body’ as most attendees were ‘Bolsheviks’
What 2 coming events encouraged Lenin to carry out a revolution as soon as possible and why?
- The Second All Russian Congress of Soviets in late October as the congress could reject the Legitimacy and authority of the Bolshevik Party
- The election for the Constituent Assembly in November as the constituent assembly’s moral authority would be difficult to challenge and therefore, this would limit the Bolsheviks power
What did Lenin do to try and convince those in his party that didnt think that the revolution should be so soon?
He slipped back into Petrograd (from Finland) on 7th October to reassure the waverers but there was still a sense of disunity
- However, On the Central Committee (decision-making body) ,here were still disagreements about when the revolution should occur. It was Kerensky who initiated the actual rising
How did Kerensky initiate the actual rising?
- Kerensky interpreted Zinoviev and Kamenev’s letter of warning to Lenin, as a sign that a date to overthrow the Prov Gov had already been set
- Hence, he ordered a pre-emptive attack on the Bolsheviks. On 23th October, the offices of Pravda were occupied by government troops and a round-up of the leading Bolsheviks begun. The Bolshevis had no choice but to fight back
What was Trotsky role during the days leading up the revolution?
Organised Revolution:
- Effective Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet
- Was head of MRC to protect Bolsheviks and control opposition (e.g. possible German attack, Prov Gov attack)
- Organised Red Guards and directed them in the seizure of key vantage points in Petrograd, such as bridges and telephone offices
How easy/difficult was it for the Bolsheviks to take over government and why?
It was easy as there was limited fighting due to the fact that most Garrison soldiers deserted, and the Cossacks and Amazons defending the winter palace went home
What did the sounding of the ‘Aurora’ guns signal?
They signalled the storming of the winter palace and a were a sign to the Provisional Government that their position was hopeless
Did the Bolsheviks seize power or did it fall into their hands?
It fell into their hands
What happened in the Second All Russian Congress of Soviets (25th October)
The SR’s and Mensheviks walked out protesting that it was not a taking of power by the soviets but a ‘Bolshevik Coup’
