Bolshevik Takeover Flashcards
Which groups dominated the leadership of the Soviet
Mensheviks
SR’s
Only a few Bolsheviks
Who supported the Petrograd Soviet and why
Workers
Soldiers
Peasants
Saw the PG as an elitist and unelected group, tainted by their previous association with the Tsar
How was the Soviets Committee elected
By Soviets, but mostly by radical socialist intellectuals, with only 1/6 committee members being workers
Which groups dominated the leadership of the PG
Liberals
Socialists
Kadets
Made up a mixture of influential elites, and those who formerly favoured a constitutional monarchy
Who supported the Prov Gov and why
Civil service
Army officers
Police
Intended to be a temporary body until new elections held
How was the PG created
The Duma chose 10 members to serve as the PG
What challenges did the goverment face
WWI
Petrograd Soviet = more radical than PG
Divisions within both PG and PS
How was Dual Power going to work in theory
Alexander Kerensky of the SR’s and former Duma member was the only person from both PG + PS. H negotiated an agreement for the two sides to work together
Soviets didn’t demand land redistribution or nationalisation of industry but accepted civil liberties, nationality, amnesty of political prisoners and that a Constituent Assembly would be elected
PG - promised their power should not be based on violence, but on the will of the Russian people
What was the impact of the PG enacting a series of liberal reforms
Reduced governments capacity for coercion at a time of crisis
Censorship lifted, political prisoners released, death penalty abolished, Okhrana abolished
Gave people the opportunity to revolt with no repression.
Give 4 reasons why Dual power was never going to work
Conflicting ideologies of moderates in Pg and radicals in PS
Reputation of PG irreparably damaged by continuing defeats in WWI
Crippled by chronic shortages in urban areas caused by a continued war effort, led to a decrease in PG’s popularity among workers and peasants
PG armed PS to fight off Kornilov’s right-wing coup - damaging PG’s reputation among elite and increased power of Bolsheviks
The Duma represented the…………and the PS represented the………………….
Propertied
Working Classes
How did conflicting ideologies damage the PG
Soviets provided a rival power base
Elected councils of workers, soldiers and peasants called Soviets began to appear throughout Russia - the Soviets had huge power to obstruct the workings of the PG
How did continuing WWI damage the PG
PG - wanted to win WWI and redouble the war effort, whilst the PS wanted an end to it
PG’s announcement of war continuation in April led to massive anti-war demonstrations prompting the resignations of those who made the proposal, replaced by Socialist from the Soviet
Kerensky organised a massive offensive which resulted in 1 million casualties. The news disturbed society even further - became known as the July Days
How many desertions were there from March-May 1917
365,000
How did chronic shortages from the war damage the PG
Jan 1917 were 300% 1914 levels, but by October they were 755%
RIght of factory workers to dismiss striking workers was reinstated
PG accepted a need for land redistribution but demanded compensation for nobles and delayed until elections. Peasant disturbances rose from 34 districts to 325 March-July
Disrupted food supply to cities. WOrkers and PEasnats suspected PG deliberately delaying election to maintain its power
What was the Kornilov Affair
Street riots in the July days inflamed fears of the elite that the PG could not uphold order
PG (Kerensky) appointed Kornilov as Commander of Army to march to Petrograd and crush the soviets, reestablish order and create a military dictatorship
Coup failed when Kerensky switched sides to the Societ, releasing imprisoned Bolsheviks and armed the PS with weapons
Give 4 Bolshevik strengths
Lenin was a charismatic leader - and his message of ‘Peace, Bread, Land’ was attractive
Lenin’s staunch opposition to the PG meant that the Bolsheviks gained from the PG’s drop in popularity
Lenin pragmatically accepted that the peasants would have to play an essential part in the revolution
The Kornilov Affair exposed the weaknesses within the pG and strengthened the position of the Bolsheviks
Give evidence of the Bolsheviks being a minority in the Soviets
In June, the First All Congress of Russian Soviets met and the Bolsheviks only won 12% seats
What was the impact to Lenin’s staunch opposition to the PG
All other major parties apart from the Bolsheviks supported the PG
Bolsheviks directly gained from the PG’s drop in popularity
In February 1917 the Bolsheviks had……members, but by October thy had over………..members concentrated in Petrograd and Moscow
10,000
300,000
WHo started the July Days
Difficult to pinpoint as each revelationary party blamed each other
Petrograd workers + Kronstadt sailor probably started it and called on Bolsheviks to lead them
Chant “All Power to the Soviets”
How did the PG respond to the July Days
Quickley crushed the uprising using loyal troops from the front. Kerensky became PM and arrested leading Bolsheviks, Lenin went into hiding
What was the impact of Lenin acknowledging the power of the peasants
Adopted the policies of the Sr that advocated land seizures
Gained peasant support for Bolsehiks and some SR’s became left SR’s and also supported them
After the Kornilov Affair, the Soviets moved increasingly to the…..and the PG increasingly……
Left
Right
What did Lenin’s April Theses Plan initial and what was the result
Initially, other Bolsheviks were amazed at the radicalism of the plans - called for abandoning the PG, arming workers, seizing power for Soviets
Was decisive as it secured support from workers and soldiers who were determined to overthrow PG
However, lost his nerve when calls to overthrow PG in July and gave a rambling speech instead. Hundreds of Bolsheviks arrested and Lenin went into hiding
Who were the Red Guards
SUmmer 1917 - fear of possible-counter revolution led to their creation (armed worker brigades in cities)
How many Red Guards were in Petrograd in July
20,000 - heavily dominated by Bolsheviks
Give a quote from Trotsky
“The army that rose against Kornilov was the army to-be of the October Revolution”
What is the MRC and why was it formed
Became clear in October that PG planning to transfer most troops in Petrograd to front lines - decreasing the radical potential
Bolsheviks formed the MRC, majority of troops supported it instead of their officers. Bolsheviks now had military supremacy in Petrograd
Why did the Kornilov affair dramatically increase trench Bolshevism
Troops knew their officers supported Kornilov
By October, Bolshevik support has risen by…% since June
164%
By October, the Bolsheviks have the support of……..Red Guards, 60,000………and……….soldiers
200,000
Baltic Sailors
150,000
What happens in Spetember for Bolsehviks
Trotsky becomes chairman of the PS and Bolsheviks command majorities in Petrograd and Moscow Soviets
Give an example of the Bolshevik Committee being far from an organised/disciplined force for change
Lenin urges them to stage a revolution in September, but Committee fears Russia not economically ready so burns his letters
Party votes against immediate revolution
What happened on the 10th October
Lenin’s decision to press ahead with the coup when most of his party opposed the decision meant it was a Bolshevik takeover
Lenin stayed up all night attacking the central committees to eventually agree to a vote for the rising 10:2
What fraction of armed units in the capital supported an armed seizure of power
15/18
How does the MRC justify the coup
24th Oct - Kerensky sends troops to shut down Bolshevik newspapers
MRC argues that he has betrayed the Soviet and the Principles of the Feb revolution and that they need to take defensive measures to secure key positions in Petrograd
What day does the revolution occur
25th
How do the Bolsheviks increase their majority on the day of the revolution
Moderates condemn his use of violence in the coup and as protest, the SR’s and Mensheviks walk out, leaving behind the radial left which support the Bolsheviks
How many workers were part of the coup
Only 15,000 - less than 5% than all of Petrograd
Give 3 paragraphs opening lines in response to ‘The bolsheviks came to power on a Wave of Popular Support’
Support - There was an upsurge of support for overthrowing the PG, but it would be erroneous to suggest that the weight of popular opinion cata[ulted the bolsheviks to power
PG Mistakes - more crucial to explaining the Oct revolution, facilitated bolshevik takeover
Lenin - Although the conditions of the PG created the conditions ripe for a revolution, it was Lenin’s unique commitment to Soviet takeover, opportunism and decisiveness that most enabled the Bolsheviks and not his rivals to take power
Give 3 points that would be made under the Lenin paragraph
April Thesus - said that Soviets only legitimate source of power. Lenin’s takeover in the name of the Soviets allowed him to secure a democratic majority
Lenin’s determination to press ahead with the coup when most of his party were against it
Trotsky’s organisational brilliance in leading the MRC and coordinating army units on the 23/24 Oct
What would have happened had the Lenin waited one more day to enact a takeover
It would have been a soviet takeover as the All Russian Congress of Soviets met and decided to overthrow the PG
Give 3 points that would be made under the PG mistakes paragraph
Biggest mistake = continue the war
Kerensky’s role in the Kornilov affair
Liberals laws on censorship, political prisoners and closing secret police - when the Bolsheviks attacked, WInter Palace only defended by a bicycle regiment and a women’s unit
Give 3 points that would be made under the popular support paragraph
Trench Bolshevism spread through the North and West fronts as well as the Baltic fleet. key turning point = Kornilov affair as Bolsheviks seemed to represent only force capable of overthrowing PG, 200,000 red guards etc
Upsurge in support from workers - Bolsheviks won majorities in Petrograd and Moscow soviets in Sept. July days “all power to the Soviets”
HOWEVER - these two groups only represent a minority of Russians. Peasantry did not play a significant part, despite some seizure of land
Only 10,000 actively participated in the coup, after the coup the Bolsheviks only secured 25% votes in elections in Dec
