October Revolution 1918 Flashcards
Who made up Dual Authority following Tsars abdication?
The Provisional Government + The Petrograd Soviet.
Prince Lvov was leader of the PG (predominately comprised of influential elites + those in favour of a constitutional monarchy
The Petrograd Soviet was made up of masses of peasants, workers and soldiers.
What were some of the key issues with the Provisional Government in general?
- Attempting to rule with a mixture of liberals + radical socialists was never going to be easy
- Fact PG was only ever meant to be temporary meant its foundations were built weakly and it lacked authority so was heavily reliant on power sharing with Petrograd Soviet however there were major divisions.
The PG relied heavily on power sharing with the Petrograd soviets i.e Order NO.1 soviets stated PG could have power /control over military policies but only when those didn’t conflict or contradict w soviets orders + policies.
This catalysed vast disagreements + conflictions within government.
What were the key issues with Dual Authority?
- The Provisional Government relied heavily on power sharing with the Petrograd soviets i.e Order NO.1 soviets stated PG could have power /control over military policies but only when those didn’t conflict or contradict w soviets orders + policies.This parked huge disagreements and conflicts
- Provisional Government wanted to increase discipline + stop desertion rates in the army whilst continuing war, whereas Petrograd Soviets encouraged workers, soldiers + peasants to strike and wanted an end to Russia’s involvement in ww1.
- Conflict within government usually resulted in lack of clear policies + direction which prevented decision making + Provisional governments incapability to stamp-down on the soviets allowed them to grow stronger + only highlighted the weaknesses + restricted power of the PG
- The Provisional government - particularly Kerensky seemed well aware of the threat that the soviets began to pose however seemed unable to do anything to stop it apart from taking measures which only reflected badly on the PG causing further discontent such as Land Problem - peasants hoarding grain and sending punishment brigades only making them more hostile.
State Lenins ideology for Revolution
- He made it clear that it was the partys job(bolshevik) was to lead people into a second revolution.
- At time Petrograd soviet, all Mensheviks and most Bolsheviks believed there was need for a Bourgeoise state of revolution - Lenin did not accept this.
- Lenin stated there needed to e a Proletarian revolution not bourgeoise sometimes referred to as ‘Permeant revolution’
What did Lenin state in his April Thesis?
- Pass over Bourgeoise revolution stage and transfer all power in hands of proletariat + poorest sections of peasants using Socialism revolution.
- Peasant redistribution of land
- No support for the PG + utter falsity of its promises should be exposed ( ending cooperating w PG)
- War should be brought to immediate end without annexation or indenemities.
- Worldwide socialist revolution.
These key demands summed as “peace,land and bread” and “all power to the soviets”
How did the public + political parties initially react to Lenins April Thesis?
The Bolshevik party wasn’t under Lenin’s tight-control on his return and when proposals were out to Mensheviks + Bolsheviks they caused uproar;
- Some Bolsheviks feared Lenin had grown out of touch during exile +proposals would do more harm than good.
- There were allegations Lenin was in pay of Germans
- Mensheviks feared leni would undermine what they’d been doing by stirring up discontent + provoking right wing action
- Some thought Lenins call to oppose the PG was unrealistic since Bolsheviks still only minority.
Lenin stated Bourgeoisie were too weak to carry Russia through Revolution and power was possessed in Soviets.
Believed World wide revolution would start not by moving to next stage of capitalism but catalyse Russia into socialism revolution and then communism (Marxism-Leninism).
State the Major problems facing the Provisional Government from April - August 1917?
- The War
- The Land Problem
- National minority Demands
- The Deteriorating Economic Situation
- The July Days
- The Kornilov Coup
Explain The problem of ‘The War’ facing the Provisional Government in 1917
From the beginning it was clear that war would play a crucial factor in how Revolution developed + is key factor in why the Provisional Government failed.
Despite the fact that WW1 was critical factor in the development of the February revolution the PG not only carried on defensive war but launched the June Offensive (renewed attack on the Austria-Hungarian army)
- Summer Offensive(June offensive) - PG launched against Germans, Kerensky mobilised armed forces but thousands ran away before offensive began + was a complete failure w 400,000 killed.
Explain the Problem of ‘The Land’ facing the Provisional Government April- August 1917
- By May significant unrest in countryside as Peasants hungry for land + the collapse of central authority meant no one to stop them. (long term discontent peasants always believed land was there’s since emancipation of serfs) + saw chance to complete process but wanted government to legitimise it.
- The Provisional Government wasn’t willing to simply hand over land, weren’t against redistribution but wanted to wait for constitutional assembly otherwise it would disrupt army(all peasant soldiers would rush back for there share) peasants viewed this as unreasonable and bean taking more livestock and land.
- Chernov tried a radical alternative where peasants would be encouraged to use land on private estates but liberals blocked this.
- During summer land seizures increased ,social revs failed to understand peasants demands for fundamental land reform and that peasants would take the land with or without permission.
Explain the Problem of National Minority Demands facing the Provisional Government April - August 1917
- When the centralised state collapsed Fines and Poles immediately called out for out-right independence and other areas wanted autonomy.
- The major problem lied with Ukraine(as it was immense value to Russia due to land and resources).Ukraine demanded self-government and all moderate socialists made concessions which outraged Liberals who saw it as step toward break up of Russia and needed to keep all regions in one centrally governed state.
- By denying Ukraine these autonomy the PG alienated allies from outside Petrograd and outer areas of Russia.
Explain the Problem of The Deteriorating Economical Situation facing the Provisional Government April - August 1917
- Food shortages, unemployment + high prices which diddnt go away after PG took power + downward spiral of economy continued, drastically effecting workers.
- Railway system already badly damaged by war saw signs of collapse. Shortages of food + raw materials led to factories cutting output + laying off workers. 568 factories closed from Feb - July in 1917
- Grain Crisis + Harvests of 1917 were very poor and prices of grain increased but still didn’t persuade peasants to sell there produce after Redistribution of land fiasco.
- It seemed the PG unable to do anything about the food shortages apart from sending out Punishment brigades which only made peasants more hostile and angry!
- Workers expected higher wages,better working conditions and shorter hours yet wages became worthless and struggle was unbearable. Strikes began increasing and turned anger onto PG. The Moderate socialist leaders failed to meet the needs of there people - the workers who turned more towards Radical socialism + Lenin
What were the July Days 1917?
- After failure of summer offensive PG couldn’t control working classes.
- Sailors organised own armed demonstration in July using Bolshevik slogans which spread into Petrograd. This placed Lenin in challenging position as couldn’t condemn the actions or give full support - premature revolution risked defeat.
- Bolsheviks tried to turn protest into peaceful demonstration but shots were fired and chaos broke - threatening to undermine Lenins credibility.
- Despite Bolsheviks helped crush demonstrations Bolsheviks were blamed for the bloodshed.
- Bolshevik newspapers (Pravada) was closed, Bolshevik leaders imprisoned (Trotsky + Kamenev) but Lenin + Starlin fled, Lenin accused of working for Germans against Russia, Bolshevik propaganda burned and Lenin’s reputation fell.
Explain The Significance of the Kornilov Coup for the Provisional Gov and The Bolsheviks
- Kerensky had to let out all of imprisoned Bolsheviks and leaders out of Prison in order to stop the coup.
- Bolsheviks greatly benefited from coup as used it as propaganda opportunity and came across as only group who opposed Kornilov.
- They came across as organised and more effective party and leadership attracting support
- Bolsheviks started gaining more elected support in urban Russia and membership grey from 23,000 in Feb to 200,000 in Oct.
Explain The Kornilov Coup
In June 1917 major offensive in hope of rallying nation was met with defeat and loss so desertions and anti-war sentiment grew.
- Kerensky appointed General Kornilov as C+C of army to regain control of troops. Kornilov however wanted to put Petrograd military control and Kerensky disagreed but Kornilov was adamant so Kerensky dismissed him.
- In August Kornilov ordered 6 regiments of troops to march to Petrograd intended to crush soviets + establish military dictatorship
- Kerensky panicked + ordered whole thing halt but Kornilov ignored, Kerensky was forced to let out all imprisoned Bolsheviks and leaders and provide them with weapons to stop Kornilov and he was arrested.
State the Timeline of events of the October Revolution?
October 24th - 5000 soldiers, sailors moved into Petrograd + Red Guards began taking over key government buildings and positions including;
- Telephone exchanges, Post offices, Railway stations, News agents, State banks, bridges + Power stations. This ensured the PG couldn’t call/signal for reinforcements starving them of aid.
October 25th - Kerensky fled Petrograd.
In the evening Red Guards + Soldiers surrounded the Winter Palace+ announced PG had been deposed.
- The Storming of the Winter Palace happened at 9:40 when blank shot was fired from Arora (signalling beginning of Bolshevik attack).
Red Guards were easily able to penetrate the building.
October 26th - Early morning Congress held and announced capture of Winter Palace + arrest of remaining members of the PG .
October 27th - Sovnarkom created w Lenin elected chairman. Lenin’s decree of Land acknowledging a peasant redistribution was agrees +Bolsheviks put forward propaganda for reconciliation of Government.
These were opposed by Mensheviks+ SRs congress adopted All Russian executive committee made up of only Bolsheviks.
