Changes that took place after the February Revolution Flashcards
What changes took place in Russia after the February Revolution?
The Duma took charge of running Russia and appointed a Provisional Government until elections could be held for a Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly would then decide on a new form of government.
The Provisional Government consisted of 12 members of the Duma. It represented the interests of the middle-class and failed to
address the most pressing problems in Russia.
The Provisional government was unpopular because:
- It decided to continue participation in the First World War.
- The peasants’ demands for land were ignored
- Most of the proletariat supported the soviets rather than the Provisional Government.
What was the Petrograd Soviet?
The Petrograd Soviet was set up during the February Revolution. It was a council
consisting of 2 500 deputies elected by workers and soldiers. The Petrograd Soviet was dominated by Mensheviks and supported by the working class people.
Soon after his return to Petrograd, Lenin’s April Theses (his views) were published in the Bolshevik newspaper, Pravda. The April Theses stated that:
-The soviets should replace the Provisional Government.
-Russian participation in the war should be ended immediately.
-All the land owned by the nobles should be confiscated.
-The production of goods should come under Soviet control.
The establishment of the Petrograd Soviet meant that there were two temporary governments in Petrograd:
-The Provisional Government was recognized by the West: it had authority but little
power.
-Real power lay in the hands of the Petrograd Soviet which had no authority but was
supported by soldiers and workers.
The Provisional Government was weakened by two major setbacks, firstly:
- In July 1917 Alexander Kerensky, leader of the Provisional Government, launched a major offensive against the German army. Kerensky hoped that a Russian victory against the Austrians would win support for the Provisional Government. Instead, the Russian army was beaten back.
Secondly:
- The Russian people staged anti-war protests and anti-government riots broke out.
This unrest became known as the ‘July Days.’ Kerensky blamed the Bolsheviks for
the unrest and ordered the arrest of Bolshevik leaders. Lenin went into exile in
Finland while Leon Trotsky was imprisoned.
What did General Kornilov want to do?
The military leader, General Kornilov, wanted to bring about a coup d’etat
and ordered his troops to march to Petrograd. This put the Provisional government in danger of being overthrown.
What happened to General Kornilov?
- Kerensky was forced to ask the Petrograd Soviet to help his government defend
Petrograd. - Imprisoned Bolshevik leaders were released and Leon Trotsky was put in charge of the Red Guard. Four thousand factory workers were armed and Kornilov was stopped.
What did the Bolshevik involvement in stopping the Kornilov Revolt do for them?
The Bolshevik involvement in stopping the Kornilov Revolt won them a great deal of popularity and Lenin decided to take advantage of this.
The October 1917 Revolution (Bolshevik Revolution)
What issues weren’t addressed by the Provisional Government?
The peasants and workers grew disillusioned with the Provisional Government as it supported bourgeoisie values. Key issues such as land redistribution, the provision of food and an end to the war were not addressed.
Lenin returned to Petrograd from Finland in disguise and began planning an armed uprising to overthrow the Provisional Government.
In order to overthrow the government:
-The Bolsheviks built up the organization of their party by appointing soviets in the
factories and in the army. They ran several newspapers which distributed party propaganda.
-Leon Trotsky formed a military revolutionary committee and the Bolshevik Coup d’etat was carefully planned.
-Red Guards set up roadblocks around Petrograd and occupied the city centre.
The Bolsheviks took control of key points in the city such as the police stations, the
central telegraph office, bridges, railway stations, the state bank and the manpower station. The takeover was well organized and there was no real resistance because:
-The Red Guards surrounded the Winter Palace, the Provisional Government
headquarters, that evening. The Provisional Government surrendered their power without a struggle.
-The Military Revolutionary Council announced that they were now in power.
How long did the Bolshevik Revolution last and what did Lenin’s promise do?
The Bolshevik Revolution was over in 36 hours and there had been a minimum
of bloodshed. Lenin’s promise of “Land, Bread and Peace’ appealed directly to the poverty-stricken workers, the peasants and the soldiers.
What caused people to support the Bolsheviks and what did Lenin announce?
The Provisional Government had done little to relieve their suffering, so they supported Lenin and The Bolsheviks. Lenin announced that ‘We shall now proceed to construct the socialist order’ There would be radical change as Russia was transformed into a communist state.
