The Bolshevik Revolution Flashcards
Why was Lenin returned to Russia from exile in Switzerland by the Germans?
They hoped that he would help knock Russia out of the war and give them one fewer enemy to fight
Outline the 10 April Theses set out by Lenin in 1917.
- End the war
- End the Provisional Government
- Transfer power to the Soviets
- Nationalise the land
- Establish workers’ control over industry
- Merge all banks
- Establish a socialist government
- End the police and army
- Educate the masses
Why were the April Theses important?
The April Theses were a radical departure from the mainstream socialist thought of the time and represented a significant shift towards the revolutionary left. They were instrumental in galvanizing support for the Bolshevik Party and played a key role in the success of the October Revolution later that year.
Why did support for Bolsheviks grow in 1917?
- Lenin’s April Theses meant the Bolsheviks had a clear and powerful message for workers, peasants and soldiers
- Bolshevik newspapers in most Russian cities constantly criticised the failures of the Provisional Government
- the Germans secretly sent money to the
Bolsheviks to fund their campaigning.
What were Lenin’s most powerful slogans?
- All power to the Soviets!
- Peace, land and bread
What were the July Days?
Riots and demonstrations against the
Provisional Government (3 July and 7 July
1917) which turned into an uprising
Why did the uprising of the July Days start?
because of food
shortages, and the failure of the June
Offensive. (The Bolsheviks did not start it.)
Why were the July Days favourable for the Bolsheviks in theory?
Lenin believed the time could be right to overthrow the Provisional Government so Bolsheviks joined the demonstrations.
Why was the Petrograd Soviet not accepting of the July Days?
Its Menshevik members did not trust the Bolsheviks
What were the consequences of the July Days for the Bolsheviks?
Many Bolsheviks were arrested as they were blamed for starting the revolt; Lenin fled back to Finland in disguise
How many members did the Bolshevik family have by October 1917?
340,000 members including 40,000 Red Guards
When did Lenin secretly return to Petrograd to support overthrowing the government?
10 October 1917
How did Trotsky help in the October Revolution?
as leader of the Petrograd Soviet, convinced the Soviet to set up a Military Revolutionary Committee (the MRC) to bring together all the Soviet-supporting soldiers in Petrograd
On October 24 1917, how did Kerensky try to stop the Bolsheviks?
- Closed Bolshevik newspapers
- blocking river crossings between the city centre and working class districts
- calling for the arrest of the MRC
How did Trotsky use the MRC to his advantage in the October Revolution?
- Took control of road and canal bridges
- Took control of army headquarters
- Took control of telegraph offices
