Bolshevik seizure of power, 1917 Flashcards
What was Dual Power
After the revolution, Russia was run by the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet of workers - until elections for the Constituent Assembly
Who was the new prime minister for the PG
Prince G E Lvov
Why did the real power lay with the soviet post-revolution
As they controlled the workers and factories, railways and power supplies - albeit the PG was more generally accepted
Who was Alexander Kerensky
Vice-chairman of the soviet and minister of justice in the PG, he ensured each knew what the other was doing
2 points of the July offensive
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
2 consequences of the July offensive
Pushed soldiers toward bolsheviks
Led to July days
Assess how the PG dealt with the war
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
Assess how the PG dealt with the countryside in 1917
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
Assess how the PG dealt with national minorities in 1917
Ukranians demanded self-governance , and modrate socialists made these concessions. Three Kadet ministers, intent of maintaining integrity of the Empire, resigned on 2 July
2 points of the economic situation in 1917
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
What were the different stances on the war in the PG?
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
How many land seizures were reported in 1917
237 cases
When did Lenin arrive at Petrograd and what did he announce?
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’
3 points of the July days
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
Who replaced Lvov as PM and when
Kerensky, April 1917
3 problems the PG faced by the end of April
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
3 points of the Kornilov affair
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
2 important consequences of Kornilov affair
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
How did Bolshevik electorate numbers grow July to October (in %)
11% to 51%
Why was 25 September significant for the Bolsheviks
Having gained control of the Petrograd Soviet prior, on the 25 Trotsky was elected President of it
Who were Zinoviev and Kamenev and what did they believe
They were bolshevik leaders who were opposed to their party seizing power on their own
What did Trotsky urge Lenin to do
Wait until the Second Congress of All-Russian Soviets, 26 October, to seize power
2 points of the Bolsheviks seizure of power
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
What did Lenin announce as the main instrument of government
The Sovnarkom - Council of the People’s Commissars (initially exclusively Bolsheviks)
