How and Why Bolsheviks Came to Power

Question 1

Who was part of the Petrograd Soviet

Answer 1

-SRs,mensheviks and Bolsheviks

Question 2

Why did the Petrograd Soviet cooperate with the provisional government?

Answer 2

-Believed in the Bourgeoise stage of revolution

Question 3

What was the PS’ view of war?

Answer 3

• didn’t want to withdraw

- wanted 2 fight defensive war 2 avoid humiliation

Question 4

Who were the Bolsheviks?

Answer 4

• fringe group of socialists

- no cooperation with PG

Question 5

Why was the return of the exiles significant?

Answer 5

• offered genuine alternative to PG

- publishing of april theses

Question 6

Describe 4 points in the April These

Answer 6

-PG condemned for being bourgeoisie
It called for...
-Banks should be nationalised
-withdrawal from the war
-'Peace,Land and Bread'- withdrawal from the war, deal with food shortages + land issues

Question 7

State 5 errors of the Provisional Government

Answer 7

• June Offensive
• Waited to distribute land
• Continuation of war
• Mishandling of the economy

Question 8

What happened during the Kornilov affair?

Answer 8

• G Kornilov appointed leader
• Sent troops to crush the socialist government
• Kerensky armed the red guard
• but railway workers blocked the path of soldiers
• red guard kept weapons

Question 9

When did the Kerensky offensive take place?

Answer 9

-July 1917

Question 10

What was the significance of the Kornilov affiar?

Answer 10

• armed the red guard–> Oct. Rev.
• viewed as heroes
• damaged Menshevik and SR rep by association with Kerensky.
• growth of distrust of Kadets and Middle classes.

Question 11

Who were the revolutionaries in the July Days?

Answer 11

• Kronstadt soldiers (20,000)

- Workers and soldiers

Question 12

What were the demands of those involved in the July Days

Answer 12

-full Soviet power

Question 13

Describe the PG’s economic failures

Answer 13

• attempts to requisition grain-anger from peasants
• high prices (gases-550% increase)
• unemployment
• war excaberated (food shortages, fuel shortages)

Question 14

Describe 5 specific events that happened during the October Revolution

Answer 14

7 October-Lenin returns from exile
10 October- Bolsheviks start to plan rev.
-Kerensky closes down Bolshevik newspapers + attempts to arrest leaders
-Bolsheviks seize Petrograd
-Members of the PG arrested
-Kerensky flees
-

Question 14

Describe 5 specific events that happened during the October Revolution

Answer 14

7 October-Lenin returns from exile
10 October- Bolsheviks start to plan rev.
-Kerensky closes down Bolshevik newspapers + attempts to arrest leaders
-Bolsheviks seize Petrograd
-Members of the PG arrested
-Kerensky flees
-Winter Palace seized

Question 15

Why did the October Revolution take place?

Answer 15

• War
• Land reform
  
  • PG unable to meet demands of the peasants
• June Offensive
  
  • loss of 400,000 men
    incr. interest in B policies
• Long term w + p discontent
• PG did not help with:
  
  • redistribution of land
  • improving living conditions (e.g: fuel shortages made lc unbearable)

Question 16

How did Lenin enable the October Revolution to happen?

Answer 16

• “all power to the soviets”
• argued for the seizure of power
• sowed disenchantment with the PG
  
  • April Theses

Question 17

How did Trotsky enable the October Revolution to happen?

Answer 17

-Agitator:
-sided with Lenin instead of Zinoviev and Kamenev
-Organiser:
- Oversaw the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Commitee
(in charge of RG + training)
-Planner-planned events of the night of 6 Novemeber