Bolshevik seizure of power, 1917

Question 1

What was Dual Power

Answer 1

After the revolution, Russia was run by the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet of workers - until elections for the Constituent Assembly

Question 2

Who was the new prime minister for the PG

Answer 2

Prince G E Lvov

Question 3

Why did the real power lay with the soviet post-revolution

Answer 3

As they controlled the workers and factories, railways and power supplies - albeit the PG was more generally accepted

Question 4

Who was Alexander Kerensky

Answer 4

Vice-chairman of the soviet and minister of justice in the PG, he ensured each knew what the other was doing

Question 5

2 points of the July offensive

Answer 5

July 1917, the PG launched an attack on the Germans

Began on 16th and lasted for approx 3 days before thousands of soldiers were killed and territory was lost

Question 6

2 consequences of the July offensive

Answer 6

Pushed soldiers toward bolsheviks

Led to July days

Question 7

Assess how the PG dealt with the war

Answer 7

At end of April 1917, it was clear the minister of War, Milyukov, was committed to an aggressive war, which outraged socialists and he was forced to resign
PG was reformed on May 5, including five socialist leaders

Question 8

Assess how the PG dealt with the countryside in 1917

Answer 8

As peasants were seizing land without government sanction, Chernov, minister of agriculture, proposed a scheme whereby the peasants could use land from private estates
However, the liberals blocked this, resulting in an increase in hostility

Question 9

Assess how the PG dealt with national minorities in 1917

Answer 9

Ukranians demanded self-governance , and modrate socialists made these concessions. Three Kadet ministers, intent of maintaining integrity of the Empire, resigned on 2 July

Question 10

2 points of the economic situation in 1917

Answer 10

Between February and July, 568 factories in Petrograd closed with the loss of 100,000 jobs
By the end of summer, peasants were reluctant to bring their grain to the cities after a poor harvest

Question 11

What were the different stances on the war in the PG?

Answer 11

Kadets, as a nationalist party, wanted to continue an offensive war
Moderate socialists wanted to continue a war to avoid humiliation
Factions in the Mensheviks and SRs wanted to negotiate a peace, but if they had to fight it would only be to defend the Empire

Question 12

How many land seizures were reported in 1917

Answer 12

237 cases

Question 13

When did Lenin arrive at Petrograd and what did he announce?

Answer 13

3 April 1917, he called for a worldwide socialist revolution, immediate end to the war, soviets to take power over the PG and land to the peasants - the ‘April Theses’

Question 14

3 points of the July days

Answer 14

Failed summer offensive had frustrated workers and soldiers
On 4 July, 20,000 armed sailors from Kronstadt naval base arrived in the capital and marched to the Tauride Palace
SR leader Chernov was seized; the soviet and PG had lost control

Question 15

Who replaced Lvov as PM and when

Answer 15

Kerensky, April 1917

Question 16

3 problems the PG faced by the end of April

Answer 16

Army was disintegrating, as regiments did mutiny and deserted
Peasants were not supplying enough grain to the cities, causing inflation
As Bolshevik grip tightened in the cities, the middle-classes were often beaten up in the streets with increasing lawlessness

Question 17

3 points of the Kornilov affair

Answer 17

Kerensky made an agreement with General Kornilov to bring troops to the capital to suppress Bolshevik threat
Kornilov, as a conservative, saw this as a means of crushing radical socialists and hence marched on the capital to establish military control
However he never made it, Bolsheviks rose to defend the city and railway workers stopped the escort

Question 18

2 important consequences of Kornilov affair

Answer 18

Kerensky - and Menshevik, SR leaders - gained a damaged reputation
Whereas the Bolsheviks gained mass support; the saviours of the city and defenders of the revolution

Question 19

How did Bolshevik electorate numbers grow July to October (in %)

Answer 19

11% to 51%

Question 20

Why was 25 September significant for the Bolsheviks

Answer 20

Having gained control of the Petrograd Soviet prior, on the 25 Trotsky was elected President of it

Question 21

Who were Zinoviev and Kamenev and what did they believe

Answer 21

They were bolshevik leaders who were opposed to their party seizing power on their own

Question 22

What did Trotsky urge Lenin to do

Answer 22

Wait until the Second Congress of All-Russian Soviets, 26 October, to seize power

Question 23

2 points of the Bolsheviks seizure of power

Answer 23

On night of 24-25 October, units of the Red Guard seized key points of the city and the next day shops opened as normal
On night of 25-26, Red solider entered the Winter Palace and arrested what was left of the government

Question 24

What did Lenin announce as the main instrument of government

Answer 24

The Sovnarkom - Council of the People’s Commissars (initially exclusively Bolsheviks)

Question 25

What were the four important decrees the Sovnarkom passed in the first months

Answer 25

Decree on peace - immediate truce and a just peace
Decree on land - peasants had right to take over estates of nobles
Decree on worker’s control - factory committees given the means of production
Decree on the rights of the people gave nationalities self-governing rights

Question 26

When did Lenin form the CHEKA

Answer 26

7 December

Question 27

2 points of lawlessness after the October Revolution

Answer 27

Mobs discovered Tsar’s cellars of liquor, resulting in drunken sailors and soldiers roaming the streets
Bourgeoisie houses and businesses were looted and individuals assaulted

Question 28

How did Bolsheviks deal with threats from oppositon parties

Answer 28

Leading Kadets were arrested, followed by right-wing SRs and Mensheviks by end of 1917
CHEKA was established on 7 December

Question 29

How did Lenin deal with the threat of the Constituent Assembly (2 points)

Answer 29

After finding they had only 175 seats against 410 for SRs, Lenin asserted that his Soviet government represented a higher level of democracy
The Assembly was allowed to meet for one day, 5th January, and after it was shut down. Sovnarkom soldiers fired on demonstrators resultant