Russia and The Soviet Union (Chapter 3)

Question 1

What were the weaknesses of the Provisional Government?

Answer 1

• Dual control with the Petrograd soviet - Petrograd soviet had more control over the military (Order number 1), and had control over things like the railyway system and post service. This decreased the power of the Provisional Government
• While the Petrograd Soviet was elected, nobody elected the Provisional Government deputies, this reduced its support so therefore authority

The Petrograd Soviet was a reformed version of the St Petersburg soviet which represented soldiers and workers

Question 2

What were the mistakes of the Provisional Government?

Answer 2

• Continuing the war - They did it to maintain support from other countries for their investment, but it was hugely unpopular amongst the people
• Delaying elections - Decreased support as it made it look like they were hanging onto power, though they just found it difficult to organise during those chaotic times
• Delaying reforms - They delayed reforms such as giving more land to peasants as they believed the Constituent Assembly should do it, which made them hugely unpopular
• Allowing more freedom - Not being repressive on political groups and trade unions as well as freeing political prisoners and exiles, while popular, created lots of opposition to the Provisional Government

Question 3

What were the causes and events of the June Offensive (1917)?

Answer 3

• Alexander Kerensky (minister of war) decided the Russian army should launch a major offensive as a victory would improve moral and support
• However it was a major disaster, with the Russian army losing many kilometres of land and many lives

Question 4

What were the effects of the June Offensive (1917)?

Answer 4

• It was a major blow to support for the Provisional Government
• It decreased support for the military and the war as a whole, and decreased confidence in the soldiers

Question 5

Why did the Petrograd soviet not overpower the Provisional Government despite having more support?

Answer 5

• They did not want to weaken the Provisional Government as they were worried about Tsarist forces retaking power
• They believed Russia needed to have a bourgeois phase before it could have a socialist revolution, and the Provisional Government was a bourgeois government so they supported it
• Russia had many problems so they did not want to receive all the blame for these issues

So instead of overpowering it, they just influenced it to get what they wanted, such as influencing the promises the Provisional Government initially made. Lenin used the Petrograd soviet to help garner support throughout Russia by dominating the soviet with Bolshevik supporters

Question 6

What were the points of the April Theses (1917)?

The April Theses were written by Lenin on his return to Russia from exile in Switzerland and outlined what he thought the Bolsheviks should do when he got back to try and come to power

Answer 6

• End all co-operation with the Provisional Government and supporting parties (like the Mensheviks)
• Start a campaign to end the war
• Campaign for all land to be given away to peasants
• Educate workers and peasants that all power should go to the Soviets (run by workers and soldiers) and the Provisional Government, police and army must have their power stripped from them
• Industry should be controlled by the soviets and all banks should be central

Question 7

What were the causes of growing support for the Bolsheviks as well as their final success throughout 1917?

Important

Answer 7

• The Provisional Government’s continued weaknesses and mistakes - All past mistakes, not acting quickly after July days, arming the Bolsheviks
• Lenin’s strong personality and determination meant he was able to convince other Bolsheviks that the time was right to sieze power
• Trotsky’s excellent organisation, his reputation from 1905 and the way he made it look like they were taking power for the Soviets not just the Bolsheviks due to his leadership of the Petrograd Soviet
• The April Theses provided a strong, clear message to workers - simple slogans such as ‘All power to the Soviets’ won the support of many workers (Propaganda)
• The Kornilov Revolt

Question 8

What were the causes of the July Days (1917)?

Answer 8

• Huge discontent with the Provisional Government - June offensive, continued food shortages due to war
• Bolshevik propaganda against the Provisional Government
• Lenins message that the Bolshevik party was already strong enough to have a workers revolution

Question 9

What were the events of the July days (1917)?

Answer 9

• A group of anarchist revolutionaries had started an anti-government demonstation
• The Bolsheviks, after initially trying to stop it, decided to join it as they believed it was an opportunity to overthrow the Provisional Government
• However, the Petrograd soviet and other parties did not support it, so, alongside the Provisional Government, they brought troops back from the front, surrounded the city and arrested many Bolsheviks. Lenin fled to Finland.

Question 10

What were the effects of the July days (1917)?

Answer 10

The Bolshevik party was hugely weakened, and it showed that they were not quite ready to take power (though things were soon to change)

Question 11

What were the causes of the Kornilov Revolt (1917)?

Answer 11

• The new leader of the Provisional Government, Kerensky, decided he wanted to improve the military so they could help win the war, and appointed a new commander in chief known as General Kornilov
• However, Kornilov’s views conflicted with Kerensky, as he wanted to disband the soviets and introduce martial law
• As a result, he was dismissed by Kerensky. Despite this, he still had plans of shutting down the Petrograd Soviet

Question 12

What were the events of the Kornilov Revolt (1917)?

Answer 12

• After being dismissed by Kerensky, in an attempt to shut down the Petrograd Soviet and restore order in the city on 24 August he sent troops to Petrograd
• Among all revolutionaries as well as the Provisional Government there was alarm, so Kerensky allowed Bolshevik supporters to arm in order to protect the city
• The Red Guard units took charge of defending the city, at the same time, railway workers blocked Kornilov’s route into the city, where the Bolsheviks convinced his troops to desert their officers
• Kornilov was arrested on 1 September

Question 13

What were the effects of the Kornilov Revolt (1917)?

Answer 13

• It made the Bolsheviks look strong as they had saved Petrograd, drastically increasing their support - Soon after the Bolsheviks had a majority in the Petrograd Soviet
• It made the Provisional Government look weak because they had to rely on the Bolsheviks to defend Petrograd
• Many of the Bolsheviks kept hold of their weapons, adding to their military strength
• Army discipline collapsed as many were accused of taking part in the revolt, leading to tens of thousands deserting and causing unrest in the countryside

Question 14

What were the events of the October Revolution (1917)?

Answer 14

• Lenin returns to Russia - Lays plans to overthrow the Provisional Government
• Rumors spread that Kerensky was planning a counter revolution, so members of the Petrograd Soviet set up the Military Revolutionary Committee which had the loyalty of most Petrograd regiments
• Kerenksy ordered a crackdown on the Bolsheviks, but Lenin and Trotsky were able to utilise the MRC to take control of most of the city
• Throughout 24-26 of October, the Red Guards siezed most of the city, and climbed through the windows of the Winter Palace, meeting little resistance and taking power while arrested the remaining members of the Provisional Government

Following the revolution, many did not support their uncalled for actions so left the Petrograd soviet