R1.4 Oct-Nov Revolution

Question 1

What are the three types of causes?

Answer 1

-Trigger
-Short term
-Long term

Question 2

What were trigger causes of the October Revolution?

Answer 2

-Raising the bridges of the Vyborg district, cutting off soldiers

Question 3

What were short term causes of the October Revolution?

Answer 3

-Political manoeuvres of Lenin and Trotsky
-Weaknesses of the PG (Kerensky)

Question 4

What were long term causes of the October Revolution?

Answer 4

-Abdication of the Tsar
-Resentments of soldiers, peasants and workers
-Defeat in ww1
-Economic problems

Question 5

Which three groups/individuals can be held responsible for Bolshevik success?

Answer 5

-Trotsky
-Lenin
-Soldiers/sailors

Question 6

How was Trotsky responsible for Bolshevik success?

Answer 6

-Organised the affair, admitted the revolution was small operations, calculated and prepared in advance

Question 7

How was Lenin responsible for Bolshevik success?

Answer 7

Chairman of the Sovnarkom, secured Bolshevik legitimacy early on and passed several decrees in early stages of revolution

Question 8

How was Soldiers/sailors responsible for Bolshevik success?

Answer 8

Supported the Bolsheviks, made their attempts more legitimate. Threat of violence made it seem more official than feb revolution

Question 9

What are examples of Bolshevik success in seizing power?

Answer 9

-Sovnarkom
-Decrees
-Combatting opposition
-Support from Red Guards/Kronstadt soldiers
-Veshenka
-Seen as a professional revolution

Question 10

What are examples of Bolshevik failure in seizing power?

Answer 10

-Socialist parties didn’t fully agree with Bolshevik methods
-Didn’t consolidate power in countryside (Civil War later)
-Isn’t true socialism and apprehension of moving to socialism too quicklu
-Economic problems still very present

Question 11

What was the Sovnarkom?

Answer 11

A bolshevik cabinet created in 1917 to run the country, led by Lenin
Created during revolution on October 27th 1917 in order to ensure smooth running of country now Dual Authority was over

Question 12

What was the Veshenka?

Answer 12

Responsible for state industry and economy from 1917 to 1932, Lenin was cautious of allowing the Veshenka to nationalise all industry

Question 13

What are four stages of the october revolution?

Answer 13

-23 oct: Kerensky tries to take action against Bolsheviks
-24-25 oct: Armed workers and soldiers, led by Bolsheviks organised by MRC, take over buildings and communication centres in Pet
-25-27 oct: Remaining members of Prov Gov are arrested by Bolsheviks, revolution is announced at Second Congress of Soviets, Congress adopts Lenin’s decree on peace and decree on land, appoints first soviet government (Sovnarkom) with Lenin as Chairman
-Dec: Secret police force Cheka is established

Question 14

What are the 6 key themes in this time period?

Answer 14

-Society
-Economy
-Military
-Political
-Ideology
-Individuals and Groups

Question 15

Explain society themes in this time period…

Answer 15

Much of Pet remained unaffected by revolution, such as public transport/services
Initially, civil servants and bankers refused to follow Bolsheviks, only compiled under threat of violence
Many soldiers from Pet garrison returned to homes in countryside after revolution

Question 16

Explain economy themes in this time period…

Answer 16

December 1917- Veshenka is established to supervise and control economic development, cautious to nationalise industry completely though

Question 17

Explain military themes in this time period…

Answer 17

-Red Guard soldiers and Kronstadt sailors MRC - Key in actual movements in Pet, Surrounded winter palace, already threatened by artillery from St Peter and Paul fortress. and guns from the Aurora. Easy to penetrate building whilst some members of gov left through back entrance
-Very little fighting involved, no more than 5 deaths
-Many soldiers from Pet go home, Bolshevik forces smaller than Kerenskys

Question 18

Explain political themes in this time period…

Answer 18

-25th oct: Second Congress of Soviets, Mensheviks and Right wing SRs declared protest against military seizure of power
-26th oct: Congress declares capture of winter palace
-27th oct: Sovnarkom created to run government (Only Bolsheviks)
-PG don’t have resources to retaliate

Question 19

What was it like for the Bolsheviks to establish control politically?

Answer 19

Not all Bolsheviks completely supported, SRs split and 500 of 670 delegates voted in favour of socialist government however Mensheviks and SRs dismayed that majority of seats went to Bolsheviks and more extreme-left wing SRs, moderates walk out congress

Question 20

What was it like for Bolsheviks to consolidate authority politically?

Answer 20

Establishing authority outside Petrograd: defeated forces of Kerensky in Gatchina. By end of 1917 Bolsheviks dominated major towns and railways and Lenin used decrees to fulfil promises and win support

Question 21

Explain the theme of Ideology in this time period…

Answer 21

-Other socialist parties don’t agree with Bolshevik military seizure of power, so left wing don’t join Sovnarkom
-Revolution: was a small scale affair, Trotsky claims 25-30k people involved (something like 5% of pet workers)
-Lenin had no intention of sharing power with other socialists, ruled by decree, he allowed 7 left-wing SRs to join Sovnarkom in November but hostile to them
-Lenin spoke of danger to moving to Socialism too quickly, envisaged long transition but emphasised that policies weren’t just to intimidate enemies but transform society

Question 22

Explain the theme of Individuals and Groups in this time period…

Answer 22

-Kerensky: aware of dangers posed by Bolsheviks, seemed powerless to stop them. Decision to order the closure of the printers of Pravda and Izvestia, subsequently raised bridges linking working-class Vyborg district of Pet to city centre, gave Bolsheviks an excuse to act
-Soldiers: Loyal to Bolsheviks, prevented Kerensky’s order to raise bridges and claimed his actions were a betrayal of Soviets
-Trotsky: Leader of MRC, plans started 24th oct, when 5000 soldiers and sailors from Kronstadt moved into the city, along with Red Guard soldiers who began to take key government buildings
-Lenin: Remained in hiding until evening of 24th oct, Decree on Peace 26th oct, elected chairman Sovnarkom 27th oct