Exam Question Flashcards
For - War was to blame
-Continuation of the war was deeply unpopular:
-Put huge strain on the economy
-Prevented Provisional government from dealing with social reform + other issues
-Army discipline was breaking down
July Offensive:
16th June 1917, Provisional govt launched a failed offensive lasting 3 days and costing lives of hundreds of thousands of soilders and lost even more territory. It pushed many soilders towards the Bolsheviks and led to an armed uprising in Petrograd known as the July days (first direct challenge on the P. Govt). July 4th 20,000 soilders marched into Tauride palace- Chernov, SR leader, kidnapped. The govt had lost control and the atmosphere was violent.
The Bolsheviks offered the slogan Bread, Peace (created by Lenin_ and Land which appealed to workers and peasants who wanted an end to the war and were dissatisfied with the govts performance
Could be argued that the July Days didnt help the Bolsheviks take power as after the Provisional govt blamed the bolsheviks and claimed that the Germans were paying Lenin to undermine the Russian war effort. Lenin forced into hiding. Trotsky and other Bolshevik leaders arrested. It proved a setback for the party. However it is unquestionable that the collapse of the summer offensive was a huge blow to the authority of the Provisional government, The uncontrolled rioting of the July Days was essentially an explosion of frustration and disappointment.
Against - Lenin
-Lenin played a large role in urging the Oct Revolution, there was opposition within the Bolsheviks- Zinoviev and Kamenev who refused to agree to Lenins seize of power and published their own views in a newspaper. Lenin pushes onwards without his willingness to push on for a revolution- may not have happened.
Set out party policy in April thesis 1917 where he called for end to war and land to peasants. Slogans like bread, peace and land brought in support from soilders peasnats and workers (he capitilised on war). Used dissatisfaction surroduning govt to gain support.
1903 Lenin had created party following splits in SR at 2nd party conferance. Between 1906-1914 whilst Lenin was exiled there was arguments and splits in the Bolshevik party and membership collapsed.
Although evidence of workers turning to bolsheviks during these years- resurgance of labour militancy from 1912 and Bolshevik paper Pravda achieving natural circulation of 40,000 copies per issue by 1914. Leadership was in exile and the Bolsheviks were nowhere near strong enough to revolt. Lenin returns in 1917 after February revolution, issues april thesis, gains support and pushes for october revolution:
April 1917- 26,000
October 1917 - 200,000
Without Lenin coming back, not strong enough to capitlise upon weaknesses caused by war.
Against- Kornilov Affair
-September 1917
-Had a larger effect on membership compared to the war, this along with an increase support from Lenin meant bolsheviks could capitilise upon weak provisional govt.
-When Kerensky (PM) appoints General Kornilov as Supreme Commander. Kornilov saw as opportunity to crush the government and begin to move troops to city to establish military control.
-Bolsheviks came to the cities aid, went to streets armed by the Provisional government. Kornilov was arrested and his troops never arrived.
As a result:
-Kerenskys reputation damaged- left with few supporters. Mensheviks and SR leaders also discredited because of their association with PM.
-Bolshevik popularity increases- seen as true defenders of revolution.
-Mensheviks and SRs had become detatched from workers and the only party that seemed to offer social reform and improvements to worker economic condition was Bolsheviks.
The Provisional Government had recived a threat from its own army and failed to tackle the problem- reliant on bolsheviks- they clearly werent fit to run the country.
