Developments Between Revolutions Flashcards
Why was the return of Lenin significant to the Bolsheviks’ policies?
Previously they had been accepting the policy adopted by other left-wing socialist
Lenin’s return was the beginning of the Bolsheviks began to forge their own path
Who did Lenin rely on to return from exile and why was it used against him?
Relied on Germany
It was said that Lenin was being paid by Germany to do what was in their best interests rather than Russia’s
How did Lenin’s (as well as Trotsky’s) ideology differ from the Mensheviks and Bolsheviks?
Believed that there was no need for the 'Bourgeoise' stage of revolution Believed Russian middle class was too weak to carry revolution, Russia didn't have to confine itself to this stage and instead focus on permanent revolution
What were the main demands of the April theses?
- immediate end of war
- power transferred to soviets
- all land taken over by state and re-allocated to peasants
What phrase sums up the April theses?
‘Peace, Bread and Land’
Why was Lenin not completely supported by the Bolsheviks + Mensheviks?
- feared Lenin had grown out of touch during exile
- allegations of Lenin in pay by Germans
- Mensheviks feared Lenin would undermine what they had done
- call to oppose provisional government was unrealistic as Bolsheviks were a minority
Why did Lenin eventually get his way?
- his skills of persuasion, tactful retreat and compromise
- abandoned call to immediately overthrow the provisional government
- end of April he had won over majority of the Central Committee of Bolshevik party by sheer personality
Outline course of the July Days
Kronstadt naval base, sailors organised own armed demonstrations using Bolshevik slogans
Demonstrators spread to Petrograd
Lenin neither condemned or supported actions
Chaos and rioting undermined Lenin
Bolsheviks blamed for bloodshed despite aiding in arrest of soldiers
Lenin (Finland) + Stalin fled, Trotsky + Kamenev imprisoned
Lenin’s reputation fell, appeared to be the end of the Bolshevik movement
What was the Kornilov coup?
Desertion had escalated and Kerensky appointed Kornilov as Commander-in-Chief to restore order, death penalty reinstated
Bolsheviks boycotted a state conference to speak out against Kornilov
Kornilov ordered troops to march on Petrograd, presumably to crush soviets and establish military dictatorship
Kornilov refused Kerensky’s order to halt, Kerensky freed Bolsheviks (who had confidence of working class)
Soviet took lead in organising Petrograd, Red Guard set up
What did Lenin want to result from the Kornilov coup?
Urged followers to keep up pressure, committees to ‘save the revolution’ set up
Sent letters from Finland to prepare people for revolution
Trotsky’s role in preparing for revolution?
Chairman of executive committee of Petrograd Soviet
‘Military resolution centre’ created to protect Petrograd, claimed Kerensky was abandoning capital to Germans, playing on fear that government ministers would support a right-wing coup
Organised the revolution, massed troops and sent commissars to Petrograd garrison to ensure they would declare their loyalty
Established state of mutiny + armed revolution before official revolution began on the 25th
What did the Central Committee vote against?
The coup, in particular Kamenev and Zinoviev, with Trotsky suggesting to wait until Congress of Soviets
Who refused to agree with Lenin even after the Central Committee agreed?
Kamenev and Zinoviev
How and when did the provisional government have a move to the left?
o Soviet pressured members to resign after Provisional Government announcing that war would continue in April 1917
o Replaced members with four socialists
