AS FP1 : Developments between the revolutions

Question 1

What were some of the key features of the Provisional Government?

Answer 1

• Shared Dual Authority with the Petrograd Soviet
• Led by Prince Lvov - many members of old duma formed part of the Government
• Not Elected the revolution had “appointed them” Milyukov

They were a bourgeoisie government. As they weren’t elected by the people they lacked legitimate authority and failed to win the loyality of the Russian people.

Question 2

What were some of the key features of the Petrograd Soviet?

Answer 2

• Workers council - previous soviets had been set up during the 1905 revolution.
• Enjoyed more credibility and power than the provisional government.
• Was able to restrain the government - for example it had ultimate control over the armed forces with the ‘Soviet order Number 1’.

Question 3

What were some of the effective changes introduced during the workings of dual authority?
[7]

Answer 3

• Recognition of Trade Unions
• 8 hour working day for industrial workers
• Full civil and religious freedoms
• Commitment to a constituent assembly
• Political prisoners were freed
• Freedom of press and speech
• Abolition of the death penalty

Question 4

What placed a strain on dual authority?

Answer 4

The Provisional Government moved further to the right whilst the Soviet moved further left. This made cooperation much more difficult and tension between the 2 increased. The main issues of disagreement were russia’s involvement in WW1 and the land question.

Question 5

What was Order No.1?

Answer 5

Decree that gave the soldiers representation and gave their committees control over their weapons. They would only obey the Provisional Government if the Soviet agreed.

Question 6

What did Lenin call the Provisional Government?

Answer 6

A “parliamentary-bouregois republic”.

Question 7

When did Lenin return to Russia?

Answer 7

April 16th 1917

Question 8

What was the slogan of the April Theses?

Answer 8

Peace, bread, land, all power to the soviets.

Question 9

What was the significance of Lenin’s return?

Answer 9

• Increased Bolshevik support, mobalising a large number of young and radicalised revolutionaries.
• German money funded the Bolshevik’s propaganda campaign
• Undermined the power of the provisional government through the demands of the April Theses.

Question 10

Lenin wanted to give the power to the industrial workers, however in April of 1917 they only made up what percent of the population?

Answer 10

2%

Question 11

What was the impact of the Provisional Government continuing WW1 (Politically / Socially)

Answer 11

• Increased support for the Bolsheviks
• Economic hardship started strikes.

Question 12

What did sailors and workers do at the Kronstadt naval base in defiance of the provisional government?

Answer 12

They set up their own government - giving other revolutionaries hope.

Question 13

When were the July Days?

Answer 13

3-6 July 1917

Question 14

What was the PG able to due as a result of the July days?

Answer 14

As people used Bolshevik icons and slogans during the demonstrations, the PG was able to raid the Bolshevik stronghold : the kschessinka mansion. They found German reciepts and 70 machine guns, forcing Lenin to flee and arresting Trotsky.
It was “political dynamite” (Indy Neidell) as now the Bolsheviks were branded as German spies.

Question 15

What caused the July Days?

Answer 15

• Economic Hardship - Grain prices had doubled in Petrograd.
• Forced closure of factories - 586 factories, and loss of 100,000 jobs.

Question 16

What was the significance of the July Days?

Answer 16

Bolsheviks were blamed for the bloodshed, Lenin had to flee. Prince Lvov was blamed for the failure and Kerensky replaced him as prime minister.

Question 17

What was the land question?

Answer 17

There was a huge problem of land shortages in 1917, peasants believed they would be given land as a result of the February revolution but they hadn’t. Disconent grew as peasants began to sieze land.

Question 18

What problem did the land question cause for the provisional government?

Answer 18

The Provisional Government and the Soviet did not have a solution to the land question - but Lenin spotted the political advantage and adopted a land policy promising land for the peasants. This brought renewed support fot the Bolsheviks.

Question 19

What was the basis of the Kornilov affair?

Answer 19

• Kornilov hated revolutionaries and the February Revolution
• Decided to move troops into Petrograd to quell growing discontent and to protect it against advancing German soldiers

Question 20

How much did inflation increase by during WW1 in Russia (Under the Provisional Government)?

Answer 20

c755%

Question 21

How many soldiers died in the June offensive?

Answer 21

40,000

Question 22

What were the consequences of the June offensive?

Answer 22

Widespread rebellion in the Russian army and the weakened Russian army collapsed.

Question 23

What was the significance of the Kornilov affair?

Answer 23

• Bolshevik red guards were released from prison
• Bolshevik support increased as they were seen as ‘saviours of the revolution.
• Provisional Government was shown to be vulnerable and weak.

Question 24

Why did the Provisonal Government fail to win support?

Answer 24

• Weak political and popular foundation
• Continued fighting in WW1
• June Offensive
• Lack of focus on economic problems
• Alienation of both the upper class and working class supporters (Land reforms and WW1)

Question 25

What lessons were learnt from the July Days?

Answer 25

Successful uprisings must be coordinated and directed from above with strong leadership.
Bolsheviks must assume power alone, as a coalition of revolutionary parties was unworkeable
Bolsheviks still lacked mass popular support and had to first achieve a majority in the Petrograd Soviet.
PG maintained enough military support to defeat armed insurrections, so must use small, disciplined groups of trained workers and soldiers.

Question 26

Why did the Bolsheviks become more popular?

Answer 26

• Demoralisation of the army after the June Offensive multiplied the Bolshevik groups within the army from 44 to 108 in September.
• Seen as the defenders of Petrograd after the Kornilov affair.
• Promoted themselves as TRUE revolutionaries because they had not cooperated with the PG.
• Gained majority in the Petrograd and Moscow Soviets by September
• Trotsky elected Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet.