October Revolution

Question 1

1. When did Lenin return to Russia from Finland?

Answer 1

10th October 1917

Question 2

1. What did Lenin put forward in a meeting with the Bolsheviks?

Answer 2

A case for an armed takeover of power

Question 3

2. When was the MRC (Military Revolutionary Committee) set up?

Answer 3

21st October 1917

Question 4

2. What did Kerensky do after rumours spread that Bolsheviks were organising a takeover?

Answer 4

Sent Bolshevik influenced army units out of Petrograd

Question 5

3. When were riots in Petrograd and when did Kerensky receive a telegram from generals telling him to give up?

Answer 5

22nd October 1917

Question 6

4. When and what did Trotsky ensure?

Answer 6

Ensures that 15/18 armed units in capital support a seizure of power by Bolsheviks - 23rd Oct 1917

Question 7

5. When and what did Kerensky finally do?

Answer 7

Order loyal troops to close down Bolshevik newspapers and arrest MRC - 24th Oct 1917

Question 8

6. When was (the start) of the Bolshevik takeover and what happened?

Answer 8

25th Oct 1917

Those who objected to Bolshevik takeover walked out of Congress of Soviets

Trotsky uses MRC to fight back against Kerensky’s troops (gain control of railways, post service and banks)

Began attack on Winter Palace

Question 9

7. When was power officially taken from Provisional Government (arrested)?

And what was formed as a result?

Answer 9

26th Oct 1917

New Bolshevik Gov formed:

Council of People’s Commissars (CPC)

Power has now passed to Soviets

Question 10

Why were Bolsheviks likely to seize power successfully by Oct 1917?

Answer 10

Unpopularity of Provisional Government

Bolsheviks out of prison and armed after Kornilov Revolt

Lenin’s April Thesis: ‘Peace, Bread, Land’ = lots of support

War going very badly

Question 11

What was Lenin’s role?

Answer 11

Changed view of Bolshevik party about ‘not being ready’ for a revolution

April Thesis = more support and introduced radical new thinking

Question 12

What was Trotsky’s role?

Answer 12

Organised Bolshevik takeover of power in Petrograd (following Lenin’s plan)

Clever tactics = troops used effectively with little opposition

President of Petrograd Soviet - gave Bolsheviks control of MRCC

Trotsky set up takeover as though soviets taking power, not just Bolsheviks

Question 13

What were the failures of the Provisional Government?

Answer 13

Kornilov Result weakened Kerensky and support for PG

Army and Navy lost all disipline - not reliable to keep law and order

Germans advancing

Peasants seizing land all over country - lost support of landlords

Never introduced reforms and failed to create elected government