Russia 3: PG and Bolshevik Revolution

Question 1

PG positives

Answer 1

• They ended capital punishment
• They ended press censorship
• They released all political prisoners
• They disbanded the Okhrana

Question 2

PG negatives (overview)

Answer 2

• Sharing power with Petrograd Soviet
• Continuing with war
• No clear aims

Question 3

Sharing power with Petrograd Soviet

PG negatives

Answer 3

• March-October 1917 “dual power”
• PS more popular with Russians (elected, Order 1, control of army)
• PS not blamed for mistakes
• Lenin had majority by September

Question 4

Continuing with war

PG negatives

Answer 4

• June Offensive (disaster)
• War was highly unpopular
• PG felt it was too big to decide themselves
• PG wanted to appease Britain and France

Question 5

April Theses

Answer 5

Points:
* An immediate end to the war as it was a capitalist war
* Nationalisation of industry
* Land for peasants - nationalisation of land
* All power in Russia must be given to the Soviets
* End all cooperation with the Provisional Government and any party helping them

Simple slogan: “Peace, bread, land”
Lenin arrived in Petrograd 3rd April

Question 6

Reasons for growth of Bolshevik support

Answer 6

• Made use of problems (Food shortage, war, delayed elections, land)
• Propaganda (widespread by June)
• Military (10,000 red guards)

Question 7

July Days

Answer 7

Reasons:
* June Offensive
* Food shortages
* Bolshevik Propaganda

Bolsheviks eventually joined the riots
5th July Kerensky sent troops to disperse
Important Bolsheviks (Trotsky) arrested
Lenin flees to Finland

Question 8

Kornilov Revolt

Answer 8

• September 1917
• Kornilov wanted martial law and military dictatorship
• Bolsheviks defended city with 25,000 men
• Trotsky sent agitators to make troops desert

Question 9

Kornilov revolt effects

Answer 9

• Start of 1917 Bolsheviks 24,000 members
• Octover 1917 Bolsheviks 340,000 members
• Bolshevils heroes
• Army collapsed
• 40,000 red guards now armed due to defense from revolt

Question 10

Bolshevik Takeover Stages

Answer 10

1. Lenin returns to Russia
2. Military revolution commitee
3. Kerensky tries to stop Bolsheviks
4. Bolsheviks seize control
5. All Russian congress of Soviets

Question 11

Step 1

Lenin Returns to Russia

Answer 11

• Mid-october Lenin returns in disguise
• Convinced Bolsheviks to revolt
• Helped by Trotsky

Question 12

Step 2

Military Revolution Commitee

Answer 12

• Kerensky tries to send all Bolshevik units out of Petrograd
• In response PS set up MRC
• 21st October Petrograd regiment pledged allegiance to MRC

Question 13

Step 3

Kerensky tries to stop Bolsheviks

Answer 13

• Kerensky ordered crackdown (no newspaper, no river crossings)
• Trotsky responded by ordering seizure of roads, army HQ and post office by the MRC

Question 14

Step 4

Bolsheviks take control

Answer 14

• Night of 25-26th October
• Seized state bank and winter palace
• Propaganda shows as struggle but was really peaceful
• Only 5 red guards hurt

Question 15

Step 5

All Russian Congress of Soviets

Answer 15

• October meeting heard of revolution
• Almost all left in protest until only Bolsheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries left
• Trotsky said the leavers “belonged to the dustbin of history”

Question 16

Bolshevik Strengths

Answer 16

• Key individuals (Lenin and Trotsky)
• Did not join the PG, not blamed for problems
• Weapons and military support