July Days Flashcards
Why did the Petrograd Soviet ban Bolshevik demonstrations on 10 June 1917?
They claimed they were intended as an armed uprising against the Provisional Government (which the Soviet supported in coalition)
How was the Congress of Soviets demonstration on 18 June hijacked?
It was meant to support the Soviet leadership and the coalition, but there were chants of “All Power to the Soviets” and support for the Bolshevik platform
What had happened to support for the Provisional Government in Petrograd in June 1917, according to the former Foreign Minister Miliukov?
“in Petrograd… to speak of support for the coalition was simply impossible”
Who resigned from the Coalition Provisional Government on 2 July and why?
The Kadets - the six “socialists” in the Provisional Government had offered independence to Ukraine
Which was the first regiment to demonstrate during the July Days, on 3 July?
The First Machine Gun Regiment
What did the First Machine Gun Regiment do to start off the July Days? Why was this significant?
Elected a “revolutionary committee” to take over certain points in Petrograd
Showed that many soldiers feared being sent to the front - the July Days was started by soldiers, NOT workers
How did the following respond to the First Machine Gun Regiment’s “revolutionary committee”:
- the Bolsheviks
- the workers
Bolsheviks: advised other workers and soldiers to NOT join the First Machine Gun Regiment
Workers: Vyborg factories were shut down and workers joined the demonstrations
What was the First Machine Gun Regiment’s plan to overthrow the Provisional Government?
Trick question! It didn’t have one - no idea how, or to where power would be transferred.
How many Putilov workers and Kronstadt sailors had joined the July Days by 4 July?
30,000 Putilov workers
10,000 Kronstadt sailors
What were the aims of the workers and sailors who marched on the Tauride Palace on 4 July?
(With whom did they share these aims, and how do we know?)
Called on the Soviet to assume “full power” by disbanding the coalition and assuming full authority
Shared them with the Bolsheviks - Lenin’s April Theses called for “All Power to the Soviets!”
Why were the Kronstadt sailors potentially dangerous?
They had at least 60,000 rounds of rifle ammunition and 500 revolver shells
What happened to the SR Leader and Minister for Agriculture Viktor Chernov during the July Days?
What does this reveal about the nature of the July Days?
He was seized and held hostage by the Kronstadt sailors, and one worker shouted at him: “Take power, you son of a b**, when it’s being handed to you!”
The workers and sailors were desperate for the Soviet to take full power, but the Soviet leaders refused
What did Lenin tell the Kronstadt sailors on 4 July? Was this popular?
They should show “self-restraint, determination and vigilance”. No, it wasn’t popular, the sailors didn’t appreciate being told to show “self-restraint”
How many workers were prepared to follow the Bolsheviks by the end of 4 July?
500,000
What did the Bolshevik Central Committee tell the workers and sailors to do on 5 July?
They should bring the demonstrations to a close
