Developments Between The Revolutions Of 1917 Flashcards
What significant event occurred on April 3, 1917?
Lenin returns and the April Theses are compiled over the next few weeks
This marks a pivotal moment in the Bolshevik movement and their strategy for the revolution.
What was the role of Trotsky in the Bolshevik Party during 1917?
Trotsky joins the Bolsheviks on June 2, 1917
His involvement significantly strengthened the party’s leadership and strategy.
What were the ‘July Days’?
A series of anti-government demonstrations in Petrograd from July 3 to July 5, 1917
These events reflected the growing unrest among the populace and the Bolsheviks’ increasing influence.
What happened to Bolshevik leaders during the July Days?
Bolshevik leaders (including Trotsky) are arrested; Lenin flees to Finland
This setback temporarily weakened the Bolshevik leadership.
Who became Prime Minister after the July Days?
Kerensky (Socialist) becomes Prime Minister
His leadership was marked by continued instability and dissatisfaction among the populace.
What was the outcome of Kornilov’s coup?
Kornilov’s coup fails and the Bolshevik Red Guards are given arms
This event bolstered the Bolsheviks’ position as they were seen as defenders against counter-revolutionary forces.
What position did Trotsky hold in the Petrograd Soviet in September 1917?
Trotsky becomes chairman of the Petrograd Soviet
This role allowed him to exert significant influence over the revolutionary movement.
What did Lenin call for during the meeting of the Bolshevik Central Committee on October 10, 1917?
A Bolshevik-led revolution is agreed
This decision was crucial in the lead-up to the October Revolution.
Fill in the blank: The first All-Russian Congress Soviet meets on _______.
June 3, 1917
This congress was significant for establishing Soviet power and representation.
What significant military organization was set up under Trotsky and Dzerzhinsky?
Military Revolutionary Committee
This committee played a key role in the organization and execution of the Bolshevik Revolution.
True or False: At the time of the February/March revolution in 1917, the Bolsheviks were a large political party with significant representation.
False
The Bolsheviks were a small party with only 23,000 members and limited representation.
Who were the first Bolshevik leaders to reach Petrograd in March 1917?
Lev Kamenev and Josef Vissarionovich Djugashvily (Stalin)
Their return was instrumental in re-establishing Bolshevik leadership in Petrograd.
Who was Lev Borisovich Kamener?
A Jewish railway engineer’s son, member of the Social Democrats, opposed Lenin’s April Theses, became a Commissar, and was executed in 1936.
Kamener met Stalin in Siberia and was involved in Brest-Litovsk negotiations.
What was Kamener’s stance on the October 1917 uprising?
He voted against an armed uprising, preferring a coalition with the Socialists.
He was opposed to Lenin’s approach during this period.
What significant position did Kamener hold in Lenin’s government?
He was made a Commissar.
His role included participation in peace negotiations with Germany.
What happened to Kamener in 1932?
He was expelled from the party by Stalin.
This marked the decline of his political influence.
Who was Josef Vissarionovich Djugashvily?
Also known as Stalin, a leading Bolshevik with peasant roots who became a dictator of Russia.
He trained as a priest before joining the revolutionary movement.
What role did Stalin play in the October Revolution?
He played a minor role but was made Commissar for Nationalities.
His background influenced this appointment.
What was the significance of Lenin’s return to Russia in 1917?
It was crucial for the Bolshevik revolution, as he brought a political program ready for implementation.
Lenin’s return was marked by a rousing speech.
What was the ‘sealed train’?
A train Lenin used to travel from Switzerland to Petrograd, which had no passport or luggage inspections.
It included 31 comrades and was crucial for maintaining secrecy.
What was one of Lenin’s key political demands during his journey?
Power should be placed in the hands of local soviets.
This was part of his broader program for the revolution.
Fill in the blank: Lenin believed in the concept of _______.
‘permanent revolution’.
True or False: Stalin was known for his role in robbing banks to fund the Bolshevik cause.
True.
This was part of his early activities as a Bolshevik.
What did Lenin argue regarding the war during his journey?
The war should end.
This was a critical stance for the Bolsheviks.
List two countries involved in Lenin’s journey from Switzerland.
- Finland
- Sweden
What was the relationship between Lenin’s ideology and the idea of a ‘bourgeois revolution’?
Lenin rejected the idea of a full ‘bourgeois revolution’.
He believed in a more direct approach to socialist revolution.
What were the main demands of Lenin’s April Theses?
- The war should be brought to an immediate end
- Power should be transferred to the Soviets
- All land should be taken over by the state and re-allocated to peasants by local Soviets
This set of demands is often summarized as ‘peace, bread and land’ and is supported by the motto ‘All power to the Soviets’.
True or False: The Bolshevik Party was under Lenin’s tight control in April 1917.
False
This was a myth spread by later Soviet historians.
Fill in the blank: Lenin’s April Theses demanded that power should be transferred to the _______.
[Soviets]
What was the reaction among the delegates regarding Lenin’s proposals?
Uproar among the delegates
What did some Bolsheviks fear about Lenin during his exile?
That Lenin had grown out of touch and his radical proposals would do more harm than good
What allegations were made against Lenin regarding his proposals?
That he was in the pay of the Germans
What was the Mensheviks’ concern about Lenin’s actions?
That he would undermine their efforts and provoke a right-wing reaction
What did some think about Lenin’s call to oppose the Provisional Government?
That it was unrealistic since the Bolsheviks were still in a minority among the Socialists
What skills did Lenin use to win support for his ideas?
Persuasion, tactful retreat, compromise, threats of resignation, appeals to the rank and file
What did Lenin abandon in order to gain support?
His call for an immediate overthrow of the Provisional Government
What was the result of Lenin claiming credit for events in Russia?
He won over those who feared civil war
What significant event occurred in April that Lenin claimed credit for?
The massive anti-war demonstration in Petrograd
What happened after Milyukov’s announcement about continuing the war?
Milyukov and Guchkov resigned from the Provisional Government
How did the membership of the Provisional Government change?
It moved to the left with the inclusion of four socialists in the cabinet
What was the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party?
The leading group that determined the Bolsheviks’ broad policy objectives, comprising 21 members in 1917
What was the outcome of the first All-Russian Congress of Soviets on June 3?
It passed a vote of confidence in the Provisional Government by 543 votes to 126
What characterized the June demonstrations in Petrograd?
Bolshevik banners dominated the march
What event is referred to as the July Days?
Armed demonstrations organized by sailors at the Kronstadt naval base
Fill in the blank: Lenin could neither condemn the action nor give full support during the July Days because he knew a premature revolution risked _______.
defeat
What happened when shots were fired at the demonstrators during the July Days?
There was chaos and uncontrolled rioting
Who supported the Provisional Government in crushing the July Days demonstrations?
Mensheviks and SRs in the Soviet
What were the consequences for the Bolsheviks after the July Days?
Their newspaper offices were closed, warrants were issued for their leaders, and Lenin’s reputation fell
What did the Bolshevik newspaper Izvestia suggest about Lenin?
That he was working in the pay of the Germans and against Russia’s best interests
What economic conditions contributed to the unrest leading up to the July Days?
Grain prices doubled and shortages forced the closure of factories
What did the workers demand during the unrest leading to the July Days?
Price controls
What was the role of armed sailors from Kronstadt during the July Days?
They appeared on the streets, chanting Bolshevik slogans and seizing key buildings
What happened to Lenin after the July Days?
He fled in disguise to Finland
True or False: Trotsky immediately committed himself to the Bolshevik cause upon returning to Russia in May.
False
What was the major offensive in Galicia in 1917?
It was beaten back in the hope of restoring discipline among troops.
This offensive was part of the military efforts during World War I, impacting the morale and support for the Provisional Government.
Who was appointed as Commander-in-Chief in an effort to restore military discipline?
General Lavr Kornilov.
Kornilov’s appointment was controversial and eventually led to his attempted coup against the Provisional Government.
What significant measure was reinstated to control the troops?
The death penalty.
This was seen as a drastic measure to maintain order within the military ranks during a critical time.
What did Kerensky’s Moscow State Conference aim to demonstrate?
Political unity.
The conference was boycotted by Bolsheviks and faced dissent from other political factions.
Which groups boycotted Kerensky’s Moscow State Conference?
- Bolsheviks
- Mensheviks
- Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs)
Their boycott indicated deep political divisions and dissatisfaction with the Provisional Government.
What did landowners and businessmen think of Kornilov?
They saw him as their saviour.
This perspective was rooted in their belief that a military takeover would protect their interests better than the existing government.
What was the situation of the Provisional Government by the summer of 1917?
It had little support.
This lack of support was due to various failures, including economic chaos and ineffective governance.
What happened to real wages and prices by October 1917?
Real wages fell rapidly while prices rose, reaching 755 percent above pre-war levels.
This economic strain contributed to the disillusionment of the working class.
What was the impact of the government’s decision regarding factory owners and workers’ strikes?
It confirmed the right of factory owners to dismiss striking workers.
This decision undermined workers’ rights and increased tensions in labor relations.
What did the peasants do in response to the government’s failure to redistribute land?
They seized land anyway.
This action reflected widespread discontent and a breakdown of governmental authority in rural areas.
What suspicion existed regarding the electoral commission established in May 1917?
There was suspicion that the ‘bourgeois’ government was delaying moves to greater democracy.
This suspicion contributed to the growing disillusionment with the Provisional Government.
What group benefited most from the widespread disillusionment with the Provisional Government?
The Bolsheviks.
Their message resonated with the frustrations of various social classes, particularly workers and peasants.
Who were the main beneficiaries of the Kornilov coup?
The Bolsheviks
They took the lead in organizing the Petrograd Red Guards.
What did the Bolsheviks do in response to the Kornilov coup?
Organized the Petrograd Red Guards and criticized the Kerensky government
They portrayed themselves as the only group opposing Kornilov consistently.
What was the membership of the Bolsheviks by October 1917?
200,000
It had increased from 23,000 in February.
What significant role did Trotsky assume on 26 September?
Chairman of the executive committee of the Petrograd Soviet
This was a major leadership position for the Bolsheviks.
What action did Kerensky take on 5 October regarding army units?
Sent radical army units out of Petrograd
This was done out of fear of a Bolshevik uprising.
What did the Soviet adopt on 9 October?
A resolution to create a military revolutionary centre
This was to protect Petrograd from ‘civil Kornilovites.
What was Lenin’s stance regarding the timing of the Bolshevik revolution?
History will not forgive us if we do not assume power now
He urged the Central Committee to prepare for revolution.
What was the main concern of Kamenev and Zinoviev regarding the revolution?
They feared Russia was not yet economically ready for revolution
They urged restraint and even burnt some of Lenin’s letters.
Define Red Guards.
Loyal, volunteer soldiers mostly recruited from factory workers
They were given basic training and comprised young and old alike.
What was Grigorii Zinoviev’s role in the Bolshevik Party?
Head of the party’s Petrograd organization
He later opposed the October Revolution and was expelled by Stalin.
Who believed that they should not act before the Constituent Assembly elections?
Kamenev and Zinoviev
What did Trotsky suggest they should work through?
The Petrograd Soviet
What event was due to be convened on 26 October?
The Congress of Soviets
What did Trotsky believe they could win at the Congress of Soviets?
Support of all socialist parties for a soviet government
How did Lenin return to Russia?
In disguise
On what date did Lenin harangue the Central Committee of the Bolshevik party?
10 October
True or False: Trotsky advocated for immediate violent action.
False
Fill in the blank: Kamenev and Zinoviev were concerned about acting before the _______.
Constituent Assembly elections
What was Lenin’s emotional state upon his return to Russia?
Increasingly frustrated
Who was largely responsible for organizing the revolution after the vote for action?
Trotsky
Trotsky played a central role in the preparation and organization of the Bolshevik Revolution.
What committee was established on 16 October to aid in the revolution?
Military Revolutionary Committee
This committee was set up under Trotsky and Dzerzhinsky.
How many members were in the Military Revolutionary Committee, and how many were Bolsheviks?
66 members; 48 Bolsheviks
This indicates a strong Bolshevik presence in the committee.
Where did Trotsky mass troops during the preparations for the revolution?
Smolny Institute
The Smolny Institute served as the Bolshevik headquarters during the revolution.
What was the composition of the Bolshevik force?
Militias from the Bolshevik Red Guards, former soldiers, and policemen
This force was created due to the refusal of Mensheviks and SRs to cooperate.
What was the role of Commissars in Petrograd’s garrison units?
Ensured loyalty, issued orders, and organized weapon supplies
Commissars played a crucial role in maintaining control over military units.
How many Red Guards, Baltic sailors, and soldiers did the Committee control?
200,000 Red Guards, 60,000 Baltic sailors, 150,000 soldiers
This indicates the significant military strength that the Bolsheviks had mobilized.
What state was established before the official start of the Bolshevik Revolution on 25 October?
Mutiny and armed revolution
This shows that preparations for the revolution were already in motion.
Fill in the blank: The Bolshevik Revolution officially began on _______.
25 October
This date marks the start of the Bolshevik takeover in Russia.
