OCTOBER 1917

Question 1

Where had Lenin been exiled?

Answer 1

Finland.

Question 2

Why did Lenin feel this was the right time for the Bolsheviks to seize power?

Answer 2

• Had gained control of the Soviet.
• Popularity.
• Liberals and other conservatives were demoralised.

Question 3

What had been created in the Kornilov affair?

Answer 3

A power vacuum and Lenin was determined to fill it.

Question 4

What did Lenin write on the 12th September 1917?

Answer 4

He wrote to the Bolshevik Central Committee urging action.

“History will not forgive us if we do not assume power now.”

Question 5

Who were the two Bolshevik leaders who felt it was not the right time to revolt?

Answer 5

Zinoviev and Kamenev.

Question 6

What happened on the 9th September?

Answer 6

Bolsheviks won the support of majority of the Petrograd Soviet.

Question 7

Who was elected chairman of the Petrograd Soviet? What day?

Answer 7

Trotsky.

25th September.

Question 8

What was formed 9-16th of October?

Answer 8

Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC), to defend against the Germans.

Question 9

When did Lenin address the Central Committee?

Answer 9

10th October.

Question 10

What did the MRC do on 21-22nd of October?

Answer 10

Asserted its authority over the Petrograd Soviet.

Question 11

What action did Kerensky take on the 24th of October?

Answer 11

Finally moved against the Bolsheviks.

Question 12

What was the result of Kerensky’s action on the 24th of October?

Answer 12

The Bolsheviks launched their attack; the government was persuaded to give up key points.

Question 13

What happened on the night of 24-25th of October?

Answer 13

Units of the Red Guard sailors and garrison soldiers were sent out to seize key points in the city.

Question 14

What had Trotsky organised on 24-25th October?

Answer 14

Occupation of the central telephone exchange, railway stations, central post office etc.

Question 15

What happened the night of 25-26th October?

Answer 15

Bolshevik soldiers entered the Palace and at 2am arrested what remained of the government.

Question 16

What was the result on the 26th of October?

Answer 16

The Winter Palace was captured after resistance stopped.

Question 17

What did Trotsky respond to the idea that the Bolsheviks did not represent ordinary Russian people?

Answer 17

‘A rising of the masses of the people needs no justification.’

Question 18

Who claimed that the Bolsheviks did not represent ordinary people?

Answer 18

The All-Russian Congress of Soviets.

Question 19

What is the Soviet view of the October Revolution being a coup d’etat or a popular revolution?

Answer 19

It was a popular uprising which was led and carried out by the working-class.

Question 20

How does the Soviet view support the idea of the October Revolution being popular?

Answer 20

The working class created the Soviets, which acted as the power bases through which the revolution was accomplished.

Question 21

What is the predominant Western view after 1945, about whether the October revolution was popular or coup d’etat?

Answer 21

They identified the revolution as the starting point for which power was seized in a coup d’etat.

Question 22

How is the predominant Western view of coup d’etat supported?

Answer 22

Lenin controlled a well-organised and disciplined revolutionary party who directed the masses.

Question 23

What did Lenin believe that the authorities reaction to the St Petersburg strikes proved?

Answer 23

That the ‘superstructure’ would always prevail to keep workers in their place.