the course of the revolution 1917 summer Flashcards
why is Kerensky so crucial and loved by the people?
- provided connection between PG and the Soviet because he was liked in all circles and the workers trusted him
- seen as ‘human bridge’ between socialists and liberals, acceptable to the workers and soldiers as well as to the military leaders and m/c
why was Lenin able to get to Petrograd so quickly from Switzerland and when did he arrive?
- the Germans let him through hoping he would stir up trouble
- arrived at Finland station in Petrograd on 3rd of April and gave a speech to those waiting
what did Lenin call for in his speech?
- ended Bolshevik accommodation with PG and the other socialists
- called for:
- worldwide socialist revolution
- immediate end to war
- end to co-operation with PG
- soviets and in particular the Petrograd soviet to take power
- land to be given to peasants
what did Lenin’s ideas come to be known as?
- ‘April Theses’
what did the Mensheviks think of the April theses?
- condemned them ‘the ravings of a madman’ contrary to Marxist theory
what was the new Bolshevik slogan?
- ‘Bread, peace and land’ and ‘all power to the soviets’
- effective propaganda to the masses
who did the slogans appeal to?
- soldiers and workers whose expectations were becoming more radical and were moving ahead of the ability of the PG and the soviet to satisfy them
- promise of land for peasants brought them on side
what was Lenin’s revolutionary thinking at this time?
- believed the m/c were too weak to carry through the democratic revolution
- proletariat already taken power of soviets particularly Petrograd soviet and were driving force in revolution so no need to go through period of m/c dominated parliamentary democracy
what was the issue with the proletariat?
- still relatively small in size and Marxist theory required a population which was overwhelmingly proletarian
what was Trotsky and Lenin’s weakest link theory?
- the ‘weakest link’ in the capitalist chain would break first and that once revolution begun it would spread to proletariat in other countries
- considered Russia as weakest link and that war acted as catalyst to bring Europe to brink of socialist revolution
what were the July days?
- several days of uncontrolled rioting and general disorder
- first direct challenge to the PG
what happened on 3rd of July 1917 to start off the July days?
- Sukhanov reported lorries and cars rushing about the city full of ‘fierce-faced’ civilians and soldiers and armed groups marching in streets
how many sailors from the Kronstadt naval base arrived in Petrograd on 4th July?
- 20,000
what did the sailors do?
- marched to the Tauride palace where they demanded that the soviet take power
- Chernov sent to calm down but bundled into car and saved by Trotsky
- violent atmosphere and PG and soviet had lost control of capital
how did the July days end?
- without clear purpose and leadership the rising lost momentum
- troops loyal to tsar arrived and crowds were dispersed
what was a major setback for the Bolsheviks at the end of the July days?
- PG received a letter that Lenin was in pay of Germans and had come back to undermine war effort
- Trotsky arrested and Lenin went to hiding in Finland
By the end of August what serious problems did the PG face?
- army was disintegrating with whole regiments deserting and making way back home
- economic situation worsening - little grain getting in from countryside and peasants extremely unco-operative
- increasing lawlessness in cities with well dresses people beaten in streets
what did Kerensky want to do and who did he appoint to help him?
- restore law and order in cities and discipline in the army
- appointed a new Supreme commander of the Russian forces, General Kornilov to bring trustworthy troops to Petrograd
what did Kornilov see this new role as an opportunity for?
- crushing the radical socialists, preventing the worst excesses of the revolution and restore order and authority in Petrograd
who did the m/c see Kornilov as?
- a potential saviour who would protect their property and interests
what did Kerensky do when Kornilov moved on the capital?
- panicked and turned to Soviet for help to defend Petrograd from counter-revolution
- people were terrified by prospect of a military dictatorship
how did Bolsheviks come to aid in the Kornilov affair?
- Bolshevik foot soldiers came out onto streets alongside soldiers, workers and sailors given arms by PG (shows that Kornilov is bigger threat than Soviet)
- however Kornilov troops didn’t arrive
why hadn’t Kornilov troops arrived?
- railway workers halted the trains carrying them to Petrograd and Bolshevik agents persuaded them to desert their officers
- Kornilov was arrested
what were the consequences of Kornilov’s affair?
- Kerensky’s reputation damaged
- Menshevik and socialist revolutionary leaders were discredited because of their association with Kerensky
- many army officers felt Kerensky had betrayed Kornilov and weren’t prepared to fight for him in confrontation w Bolsheviks
- Bolsheviks rode back on a wave of popular support as the saviours of the city, true defenders of revolution
