Bolshevik Seizure of Power

Question 1

How much involvement did the Bolsheviks have in the February revolution? Why?

Answer 1

Little involvement, they only had 10,000 members at this point. Lenin was in Zurich during the revolution and the party had not expected to see a revolution for a long time.

Question 2

When did Lenin arrive in Petrograd? What were the key ideas in his April Theses?

Answer 2

April 1917

1) The Soviets would be the basis for a new revolutionary government
2) The war would be immediately ended
3) Co-operation with the PG would end
4) Land would be given to the peasants
5) A worldwide socialist revolution would be borne out of Russia and other countries would support them in doing so.

Question 3

What was Lenin’s slogan to sum up his April Theses?

Answer 3

“Peace, Bread, Land”

Question 4

Why was Lenin opposed to the war?

Answer 4

He thought it was carried out to benefit the bourgeoisie and capitialists. He thought it simultaneously was the cause of the socio-economic grievances of the proletariat.

Question 5

What was the consequence of the April Theses?

Answer 5

It framed the Bolsheviks in clear opposition to the PG

Question 6

What was Bolshevik party membership in February 1917? April 1917?

Answer 6

February 1917 - 23,000

April 1917 - 100,000

Question 7

What proportion of votes did the Bolsheviks acquire in the Moscow municipal elections in July and October?

Answer 7

July - 11%

October - 51%

Question 8

When did the First All Russian Congress of Soviets meet? What was the membership of the three main revolutionary parties in the congress?

Answer 8

June 1917
SRs = 285
Mensh = 248
Bolsh = 105

Question 9

How did the All Russian Congress of Soviets indirectly challenge the PG?

Answer 9

It was an alternative body which had electoral legitimacy

Its existence added strength to the Bolshevik slogan - “All power to the Soviets”

Question 10

What did Lenin declare at the All Russian Congress of Soviets? What did the congress prevent the Bolsheviks from doing?

Answer 10

• He declared that the Bolsheviks were ready to take government alone
• Congress however prevented the Bolsheviks from staging a major demonstration in Petrograd shortly after the meeting

Question 11

What proportion of coal needs were being fulfilled by May?

Answer 11

1/3

Question 12

How many people were registering as unemployed with a union in July? October?

Answer 12

July - 37.4 a day

October - 71.3 a day

Question 13

How many strikers were there in April? October?

Answer 13

April - 35,000

October - 1.2 million

Question 14

How many casualties were there in the first few weeks of the Kerensky Offensive which began the 18th June?

Answer 14

400,000

Question 15

Why did the Bolsheviks grow more appealing to the workers and peasants as 1917 continued?

Answer 15

Since the social, economic and political problems worsened during the period. The PG was incapable of solving food shortages, peasant disturbances in the countryside and holding elections for the CA. Since the other revolutionary parties were part of the PG, workers turned to the Bolsheviks and their promise of “peace, bread, land”.

Question 16

What were the five main causes of the July Days?

Answer 16

• The Kerensky Offensive and its failure
• The poor socio-economic situtation within Petrograd e.g. Putilov factory closed in July for a month
• The fear of the Petrograd garrison of being sent to the front after Kerensky demobilised two regiments at the front for disobeying orders
• The resignation of 4 Kadet ministers on the 4th July which destabilised government
• The Petrograd demonstration on the 18th June which showed off the strength of the SOviets

Question 17

What were the July Days (3rd and 4th July)?

Answer 17

The workers and soldiers rose up, marching the streets and commandeering the motors of ministers. 20,000 armed sailors joined the movement on the 4th July from the Kronstadt naval base and marched to the Tauride palace, demanding the Soviet takes power. Chernov came out to try and calm the crowd but was almost lynched

Question 18

How was the July Uprising put down?

Answer 18

Loyal troops were brought into the city and secured control of it quickly

Question 19

What was the impact of the July Days on the Bolsheviks?

Answer 19

• They had 800 senior party members arrested (including Trotsky)
• Lenin fled to Finland
• The printing of Pravda was stopped on the 7th July
• Papers were leaked regarding Bolshevik links with the German enemy which damaged public opinion of them
• The Soviet condemned the role of the Bolsheviks in the July Days in an article in Izvestiya

Question 20

What was the impact of the July Days on the PG?

Answer 20

• It led to a cabinet reshuffle following Lvov’s resignation. Kerensky became PM.
• It gave the PG a boost in popularity as it showed the effectiveness of them to handle the July Days

Question 21

What change in policy towards peasants was designed to satisfy their land interests?

Answer 21

Kerensky switched from a policy of land nationalisation to free hand division of land

Question 22

When was the Kornilov revolt?

Answer 22

26th August - 2nd September

Question 23

What did Kornilov and Kerensky agree to do in order to bring back control in Petrograd?

Answer 23

Bring in loyal troops to the city to suppress the PS

Question 24

How was the Kornilov coup stopped?

Answer 24

The Bolsheviks took a leading role in coordinating the defence of Petrograd. Soldiers were then sent out to meet Krymov’s men and persuade them to put down their arms and turn against their officers instead.

Question 25

How did the Bolsheviks benefit from the Kornilov affair?

Answer 25

• Their prisoners gained amnesty
• The Red Guard become armed
• They obtained a reputation as saviours of the Soviet and hence it was healed after the July Days
• They were able to set up the MRC, using the Kornilov Coup as an excuse

Question 26

In what building was the Soviet located after the July Days and the October Revolution planned?

Answer 26

The Smolny Institute

Question 27

What occurred in Moscow at the same time?

Answer 27

A more bloody fight between the soldiers and workers took place. A truce was made on the 2nd September.

Question 28

How did Lenin want to use the Second All Russian Congress of the Soviets on the 25th October? Why did this turn out to work?

Answer 28

To legitimise the Bolshevik takeover of power
Since the SRs and Mensheviks walked out the Congress, the Bolsheviks had a majority to vote in favour of the takeover of power.

Question 29

How many party members did the Bolsheviks have by October 1917?

Answer 29

350,000

Question 30

How many strikers were there in October 1917?

Answer 30

1.2m

Question 31

What was the unemployment rate in October 1917? What was the national debt?

Answer 31

71%

National debt was 50bn roubles

Question 32

Why did Kerensky’s and the SR’s popularity decline as a result of the new coalition goverment programme from July 1917?

Answer 32

On the Kadets’ insistence, Kerensky passed tough new restrictions on public gatherings, restored the death penalty at the Front and agreed to roll back the influence of the soldiers’ committees to restore military discipline.

Question 33

What foolish decision did Kerensky make in the days leading up to the revolution?

Answer 33

He announced his plans to transfer the bulk of the Petrograd garrison to the Northern Front