Causes of the October Revolutions

Question 1

Intro:

Answer 1

Lenin most important

Weakness of PG considered too as well as Strength of Soviets

Question 2

Lenin evidence

Answer 2

Service (HISTORIAN)

• April Thesis
• Outlined aims of the Bolsheviks, including overthrowing PG and, crucially, ending the war, which had seen almost 5 million deaths
• Gained further support through mass publicising popular slogans, namely “Peace, Bread, and Land”
• 200,000 in September compared to a mere 24,000 in March (due to Lenin support)

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Question 3

Criticisms of Lenin

Answer 3

Fitzpatrick

–> merely harnessed what was an already ‘popular uprising’

–> Convincing due to the incredibly poor economic situation in Russia, with food prices in October rising 755% compared to 1914 levels, and it January 1917 they were 300% of 1914 levels

Lenin incited the revolution, secretly returning from exile in October 1917 to meet with the Central Committee on the 10th, demanding an immediate coup

o Saw 10 of CC in favour and 2 against

 Thus, Lenin crucial as he was the one who actually pushed for the revolution to start – without such action, October 1917 would not have occurred

Question 4

Weakness of PG

Answer 4

HISTORIAN - Pipes

–> Weakness fostered pol opps

–> Evidenced as continued participation in WW1 saw death tolls reach 2 million by Oct

–> Manifested unrest into protest, with 250,000 marching on Tauride Palace during the July Days demanding to end the war

–> Kornilov Affair –> attempted coup by Kornilov –> Released Trotsky into pol life

Question 5

Criticisms of Weakness of PG

Answer 5

Weakness of PG increased unrest but did not directly cause the outbreak of revolution

Lenin’s role in capitalizing on the unrest at the PG was crucial in beginning the revolution

Popular decrees such as abolition of death penalty and freedom of press and religion demonstrate the early popularity of the PG

Service’s perspective remains more convincing

Question 6

Strength of Soviets

Answer 6

• Waller, who cites the role of Soviets in encouraging peasant uprisings
• 174 disturbances (uprisings) in April 1917 and 325 in July

-Dual power system better alternative

• Soviets were elected by the people and gained widespread support and popularity, with representatives from 350 towns, villages, and military bases in the first All-Russian Congress of Soviets

Trotsky’s organization of the Petrograd Soviet and formation of MilRevCom were crucial in starting the October Revolution with the Bolshevik Red Guards and troops loyal to the Soviet

Trotsky’s role in the Garrison Crisis was pivotal in gaining support of soldiers and officers for the Soviet

Question 7

Criticisms of Soviets

Answer 7

• However, another perspective outlines the role of Lenin in strengthening the Soviets

o April Theses saw slogans such as ‘All power to the Soviets!’ – served to increase support for Soviets

• Moreover, strength of Soviets undermined as it was rather the roles of Lenin and Trotsky in starting revolution, as the revolution was led by the Bolsheviks

o Mensheviks and SRs refused to join revolution, and the Bolsheviks, at the time of the First All-Russian Congress of Soviets in july 1917, only had 105 delegates compared to 248 of Mensheviks and 285 of SRs

 Thus, Soviets could not have played such a great role if 80% of them did not participate in starting revolution

As such, this perspective is not as convincing as Service’s perspective, as there was no widespread support across all Soviets in starting revolution, rather only those controlled by the Bolsheviks played a significant role

• Thus, Service’s perspective is more convincing.