October 1917 revolution

Question 1

Kerensky’s actions before revolution

Answer 1

23rd October ordered printers of Bolshevik newspapers to stop and attempted to sent troops to raise the bridges linking working class areas to centre, however prevented by troops loyal to Bolsheviks, gave Bolsheviks an excuse to act.

Question 2

Course of revolution

Answer 2

24th During night 5000 soldiers moved into city and took key buildings like telephone exchange, post office, railway stations etc, some resistance at telegraph office but mostly just gave in
25th Kerensky left to attempt to get support, surrounding of Winter Palace, guns of battleship Aurora, blank shot fired starting revolution, Soviets meet and denounce coup
26th Soviet congress adopt resolution to take power, evening Lenin’s decree on peace accepted by congress unanimously
27th early morning, decree on land put through with some resistance, ‘all-Russian central executive committee’ set up with majority Bolsheviks, Sovnarkom created, only Bolsheviks, bunch of other things accepted.

Question 3

How many actually involved

Answer 3

25 000 to 30 000 at most, 10 000 to 15 000 in square around winter palace.

Question 4

First meeting of all-Russian congress of soviets

Answer 4

Mensheviks spoke against as well as right wing of SRs, 500/670 voted in favour of socialist government though, in protest that sovnarkom membership so weighted ‘moderates’ walked out playing into Bolshevik hands, PS increasingly sidelined and rule by decree from the sovnarkom.

Question 5

Early resistance to Bolsheviks

Answer 5

Civil servants initially refuse, 10 days until state bank hand over reserves, only with armed threat, Kerensky mass 18 cossack regiments and some SR officers, ‘executive committee of railwaymen’ refused to transport food, however protests fizzle out and Kerensky’s forces defeated.

Question 6

Consolidation of revolution

Answer 6

Permit nationalities to break away in November, both Ukraine and Finland did so, Moscow Kremlin taken after 10 day battle 3rd November, allowed 7 SRs to join Sovnarkom in November in response to protests but very controlled.

Question 7

Decrees in October

Answer 7

Workers decree for 8 hour day
Press decree ban opposition press
Decree on peace
Decree on land (reduced peasant support for SRs)

Question 8

Decrees in November

Answer 8

Nationality decree for self determination
Decree on workers’ control of factories
Decree to outlaw sex discrimination gender equality e.g. property rights.

Question 9

Decrees in December

Answer 9

Set up Cheka via decree
Bank decree to nationalise them
Military decree remove ranks and decorations etc.
Decrees on the Church to nationalise and equalise divorce outside of church control.

Question 10

Veshenka

Answer 10

Set up December 1917 to supervise economic affairs, cautious Lenin wanted a ‘long transition’ to socialism starting with state capitalism.

Question 11

Combating opposition

Answer 11

Propaganda against ‘class enemies’
Anti-Bolshevik newspapers shut down
Purge of civil service
Cheka
Leading political opposition e.g. Mensheviks rounded up and imprisoned in December.