Oct/nov Revolution

Question 1

Causes

Answer 1

The Bolsheviks were dominating Petrograd and Moscow soviets
PG was very weak- Kerensky’s credibility was greatly reduced after Kornilov coup
After the MRC was established 15/18 Petrograd garrisons declared allegiance to the MRC

Question 2

Course of the revolution

Answer 2

24 oct- red guards supported by soldiers and sailors from Kronstadt capture key positions in Petrograd
25- after a shot from the battleship aurora to signal attack the red guards entered winter palace
26- all remaining members of PG arrested. Congress agrees to Lenin’s decree on peace
27- congress agrees to Lenin’s decree on land
Central executive committee set up with the majority of members being Bolsheviks or left wing SRs
Sovnarkom set up

Question 3

Extent of the revolution

Answer 3

Involved 25000-35000 people at the most
10000-15000 people may have been involved in the storming of winter palace but many may have just been spectators
Involved very little fighting- 5 deaths max
Focused on the takeover of a few strategic targets

Question 4

Establishment of Bolshevik authority

Answer 4

Sovnarkom set up with Lenin as chairman and sidelined Petrograd soviet
Civil servants refused to work for Bolsheviks at first and bankers refused them access to state funds. Took 10 days and the threat of an armed intervention for them to hand over reserves
Military forces weakened as many of the Petrograd garrison soldiers went back to their homes in the countryside

Question 5

Early decrees

Answer 5

Decree on peace- promised to end the war with no indemnities
Decree on workers rights- limited working day to 8 hrs
Decree on land- abolished private ownership and legitimised peasant seizures of land
Decree to establish Cheka
Press decree- banned opposition press