Chapter 3 - Developments between the revolutions

Question 1

When and how did Lenin return to Russia?

Answer 1

• 3rd April 1917
• returned from Switzerland after 17 years of exile
• had to enlist the help of the Germans (who wanted him to go into Russia and stir up trouble)

Question 2

How did Lenin’s proposal of a second revolution differ from the beliefs of most other political figures in Russia?

Answer 2

• The Soviet, Mensheviks and most Bolsheviks followed marxist ideologies and believed in the need for a ‘bourgeousie stage’ of the revolution
• Lenin thought the middle class was too weak and this would hold back the inevitable proletarian revolution

Question 3

How did the April thesis popularise Bolshevik political appeal?

Answer 3

• Desire for end of war showed they wanted peace
• Showed no support for the PG –> won over the radicals
• plans to set up international organisation for worldwide revolution had potential to give Russia great power
• Put an emphasis on exposing the lies and falsities of the provisional government –> made themselves seem more trustworth

Question 4

How did the April thesis popularise Bolshevik economic appeal?

Answer 4

• Salary policies promoted equality, especially for the working class
• Took land from the rich who many believed were undeserving (peasants had been working for a long time to try and gain land back from the government)
• United all banks into one national bank –> less inadequecies
  -Took over all production of goods –> potential for fairer distribution

Question 5

How did the April thesis popularise Bolshevik social appeal?

Answer 5

• Prioritised the need of the lower down in society (primarily the workers) who had gone largely unrepresented until this point
• spread propaganda directed at the peasants and workers (largest section of society with the most discontent)
• Idea of power to the proletariat –> wanted all state power to be transferred from the Soviets to the workers’ deputies

Question 6

How did the April thesis popularise Bolshevik Lenin as a figure-head?

Answer 6

• showed that he was a competent political leader, capable of taking over and executing government duties
• showed that his policies and ideologies had the best interests of the people at heart (specifically those at the bottom of the social ladder who had the most reason to desire the second revolution he was proposing)

Question 7

What caused the July Days?

Answer 7

• members of working class began to side with Bolsheviks
• sailors at Krondant naval base organised their own demonstration using Bolshevik slogans –> spread to centre of Petrograd
• June offensive disaster –> break down of army discipline –> mass desertions –> Kadets resign from govt.
• Bolsheviks use sailors to seize control –> 70,000 surround Tauride Palace –> 2 days of demonstrations

Question 8

What were the consequences of the July Days?

Answer 8

• shots fired at demonstrators –> uncontrolled rioting
• Bolsheviks blamed for bloodshed –> Pravda shut down –> warrants for arrest of Bolshevik leaders –> Lenin+Stalin fled, Trotsky and Kamenev imprisoned
• Kerensky replaced Lvov as Prime Minister
• Lenin criticised for fleeing

Question 9

What caused the Kornilov Coup?

Answer 9

• defeat of Brusilov offensive –> anti-war sentiment –>Kornilov made commander in chief of the army (loved by rich)
• Bolsheviks organised a general strike, Mensheviks and SRs spoke against him
• (August) ordered troops to march on Petrograd and establish a military dictatorship
• Kerensky released Bolsheviks form prison and gave them weapons to stop him –> stopped coup

Question 10

What were the consequences of the Kornilov Coup?

Answer 10

• Bolsheviks organised Red Guard –> united military groups –> milked propaganda, criticised Kerensky
• ‘Committees to save the revolution’ set up
• Bolsheviks more elected more in Soviets –> majorities in Moscow and Petrograd –> membership rose from 23,000 in Feb to 200,000 in Oct –> commanded force of 10,000 Red Guards

Question 11

What was Lenin’s role in bringing about the October/November revolution of 1917?

Answer 11

• Bombarded central committee with letters demanding revolution from mid-september
• Committee voted against him on 15th Sep (even though he threatened to resign)
• Out-argued Kamenev and Zinoviev who wanted to wait until after Constituent Assembly elections
• snuck into Russia in disquise to make speech on 10th Oct
• convinced the committee with a majority vote of 10:2

Question 12

What was Trotsky’s role in bringing about the October/November revolution of 1917?

Answer 12

• suggested achieving it without violence, through the Congress of Soviets
• sent leaders and speakers to factories
• set up ‘Military Revolution Committee’ with Dzerzhinsky (48/66 members were Bolsheviks)
  -massed troops at headquarters
• sent Commissars to Petrograd garrison units to ensure loyalty –>15/18 declared allegience to the Soviet instead of the PG