The October Revolution Flashcards
What did the Kornilov Affair, as well as the continuing economic crisis, provide the Bolsheviks with? Who played a decisive role in this?
An opportunity to overthrow Kerensky - Lenin played a decisive role in persuading the Bolsheviks to seize power.
What did the Provisional Government announce in August 1917?
That elections would take place for a new Constituent Assembly in November.
Why Lenin determined to seize power before November?
Because he knew that the SRs would win the election, and that the Constituent Assembly would have a mandate to create a democratic government.
When did Lenin secretly return to Petrograd? Why?
10 October 1917, in order to persuade the Bolshevik Central Committee to support an armed seizure of power in Petrograd.
How did Lenin and Trotsky disagree about the seizure of power?
- Lenin wanted to seize power immediately prior to the Second All-Russia Congress of Soviets, hoping that the Congress of Soviets would authorise the creation of a Bolshevik government
- Trotsky argued that Bolshevik action should be authorised by the Congress of Soviets - Lenin argued that this would rob the Bolsheviks of the element of surprise
What was the Second All-Russia Congress of Soviets?
- Due to meet in Petrograd at the end of October
- It brought together representatives of workers, soldiers and peasants from across Russia
- Lenin anticipated the Second Congress would back a new government that was committed to radical change
Who, in the Bolsheviks, opposed any uprising? Why?
Zinoviev and Kamanev - usually two of Lenin’s strongest supporters - argued that the Bolsheviks should join a coalition government with radical Mensheviks and SRs.
In spite of bitter divisions, Lenin persuaded…
the majority of the Bolshevik Central Committee to back his plan.
What role was Trotsky given in the uprising?
Planning it in detail.
How did Trotsky play a key role in the October Revolution?
- He was chair of the Petrograd Soviet, therefore he could organise the uprising through the Soviet
- In this sense, he could make the uprising look like the Soviet seizing power, rather than the Bolsheviks seizing power
Who were the Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC)?
- Crucial to Trotsky’s plan
- Formed by the Mensheviks after the Kornilov Affair
- An armed group, organised along military lines, formed to protect Petrograd from an attempted military takeover
- Was under Bolshevik control by October 1917 - headed by Trotsky, Stalin and Felix Dzerzhinsky
What did the Provisional Government announce in mid-October 1917?
That Petrograd’s troops were being moved away from the city - the Soviets assumed this news meant that troops loyal to the Soviet were being moved out of the city, so the government could take control of the Soviet.
What was the pretext for Bolshevik action?
- Trotsky used fears about Kerensky’s orders as a pretext to ready the MRC for ‘defensive action’
Trotsky, speaking on behalf of the Soviet, ordered that no troops should be moved out of Petrograd without the…
authorisation of the MRC.
In mid-October 1917, Trotsky made sure that the MRC….
formed close links will all of the units of soldiers in Petrograd.
