Bolsheviks gaining power Flashcards
What was the political situation by early October 1917?
Support for the Provisional Government had collapsed, and the Bolsheviks had become the most popular political party.
What political body did the Bolsheviks dominate by October 1917?
The Petrograd Soviet.
How many members and Red Guards did the Bolsheviks have by October 1917?
200,000 members and 10,000 Red Guards.
Who was in charge of the Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC)?
Leon Trotsky.
Where was Lenin during the lead-up to the October Revolution?
In exile in Finland.
What was Lenin urging the Bolsheviks to do in his letters from Finland?
Seize power immediately.
“History will not forgive us if we do not seize power now” - 12 Sept
Why were Kamenev and Zinoviev hesitant to seize power?
They feared it would unite other parties against the Bolsheviks and preferred to wait for the elections to the Constituent Assembly.
What did Trotsky propose instead of immediate seizure of power?
To wait for the 2nd All-Russian Congress of Soviets on October 26 to legitimize a new government.
Why was Lenin against waiting for the Russian Congress of Soviets to meet?
He opposed cooperating with other political parties and wanted a Bolshevik-only government.
