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A level History - Russia > Bolshevik Takeover > Flashcards

Bolshevik Takeover Flashcards

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1
Q

Which groups dominated the leadership of the Soviet

A

Mensheviks
SR’s
Only a few Bolsheviks

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2
Q

Who supported the Petrograd Soviet and why

A

Workers
Soldiers
Peasants

Saw the PG as an elitist and unelected group, tainted by their previous association with the Tsar

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3
Q

How was the Soviets Committee elected

A

By Soviets, but mostly by radical socialist intellectuals, with only 1/6 committee members being workers

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4
Q

Which groups dominated the leadership of the PG

A

Liberals
Socialists
Kadets

Made up a mixture of influential elites, and those who formerly favoured a constitutional monarchy

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5
Q

Who supported the Prov Gov and why

A

Civil service
Army officers
Police

Intended to be a temporary body until new elections held

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6
Q

How was the PG created

A

The Duma chose 10 members to serve as the PG

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7
Q

What challenges did the goverment face

A

WWI
Petrograd Soviet = more radical than PG
Divisions within both PG and PS

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8
Q

How was Dual Power going to work in theory

A

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

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9
Q

What was the impact of the PG enacting a series of liberal reforms

A

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.

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10
Q

Give 4 reasons why Dual power was never going to work

A

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

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11
Q

The Duma represented the…………and the PS represented the………………….

A

Propertied

Working Classes

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12
Q

How did conflicting ideologies damage the PG

A

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

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13
Q

How did continuing WWI damage the PG

A

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

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14
Q

How many desertions were there from March-May 1917

A

365,000

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15
Q

How did chronic shortages from the war damage the PG

A

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

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16
Q

What was the Kornilov Affair

A

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

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17
Q

Give 4 Bolshevik strengths

A

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

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18
Q

Give evidence of the Bolsheviks being a minority in the Soviets

A

In June, the First All Congress of Russian Soviets met and the Bolsheviks only won 12% seats

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19
Q

What was the impact to Lenin’s staunch opposition to the PG

A

All other major parties apart from the Bolsheviks supported the PG

Bolsheviks directly gained from the PG’s drop in popularity

20
Q

In February 1917 the Bolsheviks had……members, but by October thy had over………..members concentrated in Petrograd and Moscow

A

10,000

300,000

21
Q

WHo started the July Days

A

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”

22
Q

How did the PG respond to the July Days

A

Quickley crushed the uprising using loyal troops from the front. Kerensky became PM and arrested leading Bolsheviks, Lenin went into hiding

23
Q

What was the impact of Lenin acknowledging the power of the peasants

A

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

24
Q

After the Kornilov Affair, the Soviets moved increasingly to the…..and the PG increasingly……

A

Left

Right

25
Q

What did Lenin’s April Theses Plan initial and what was the result

A

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

26
Q

Who were the Red Guards

A

SUmmer 1917 - fear of possible-counter revolution led to their creation (armed worker brigades in cities)

27
Q

How many Red Guards were in Petrograd in July

A

20,000 - heavily dominated by Bolsheviks

28
Q

Give a quote from Trotsky

A

“The army that rose against Kornilov was the army to-be of the October Revolution”

29
Q

What is the MRC and why was it formed

A

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

30
Q

Why did the Kornilov affair dramatically increase trench Bolshevism

A

Troops knew their officers supported Kornilov

31
Q

By October, Bolshevik support has risen by…% since June

A

164%

32
Q

By October, the Bolsheviks have the support of……..Red Guards, 60,000………and……….soldiers

A

200,000
Baltic Sailors
150,000

33
Q

What happens in Spetember for Bolsehviks

A

Trotsky becomes chairman of the PS and Bolsheviks command majorities in Petrograd and Moscow Soviets

34
Q

Give an example of the Bolshevik Committee being far from an organised/disciplined force for change

A

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

35
Q

What happened on the 10th October

A

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

36
Q

What fraction of armed units in the capital supported an armed seizure of power

A

15/18

37
Q

How does the MRC justify the coup

A

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

38
Q

What day does the revolution occur

A

25th

39
Q

How do the Bolsheviks increase their majority on the day of the revolution

A

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

40
Q

How many workers were part of the coup

A

Only 15,000 - less than 5% than all of Petrograd

41
Q

Give 3 paragraphs opening lines in response to ‘The bolsheviks came to power on a Wave of Popular Support’

A

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

42
Q

Give 3 points that would be made under the Lenin paragraph

A

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

43
Q

What would have happened had the Lenin waited one more day to enact a takeover

A

It would have been a soviet takeover as the All Russian Congress of Soviets met and decided to overthrow the PG

44
Q

Give 3 points that would be made under the PG mistakes paragraph

A

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

45
Q

Give 3 points that would be made under the popular support paragraph

A

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

A level History - Russia (12 decks)

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