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History Russia Exam
Provisional Government and the Bolshevik Revolution
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What were the main weaknesses of the Provisional Government? | Dual Control 'Order Number 1' (lack of control over the military) Lack of legitimacy Lack of decisive leadership |
| Describe why Dual Control was a weakness of the Provisional Government | There were key areas of government the Provisional government had no control over (e.g. The Petrograd Soviethad control of railway and post serivice making it hard for the government to transport food to the cities |
| Describe why Order Number 1 was a weakness of the Provisional Government | The Petrograd Soviet had the final say on military matters-damaged authority of Provisional Government A government could not work effectively if its orders were only followed if another organisation gave its permission |
| Describe why how elections worked was an issue for the Provisional Government and thus a weakness (lack of legitimacy) | The Petrograd Soviet were eleted The Provisional government had not been elected by the people since they were elcted to the duma under tsarism, this again weaked the authority of the provisional government |
| What were the main mistakes of the Provisional government? | Continuing the First World War Delaying elections Delaying reforms Allowing more freedom Failiure to provide land to the peasants Failiure to improve the economy |
| Why was the Provisional government continuing the first world war a mistake? | They decided to remain in war because they were relying on Allied countries to invest in Russia's recovery However, most ordinary people wanted Russia out of the war as soon as possible |
| What was the Provisional government delaying elections a mistake? | They always intened on calling elections to the Constituent Assembly, it was difficult to organise and there were many other serious problems that they needed to attend to. This made it look like they were trying to stay in power without being elected |
| Why was the Provisional Government allowinf more freeom a mistake? | They allowed greater freedom of speech: could hold meetings, set up political parties, exiles could return to Russia Thus did reduce the autocracy left by tsarism, but it did allow people to openly criticise the Provisional Government |
| The June offensive | May 1917: Alexander Kerensky appointed minister of war launched a major offensive, win would increase support for Provisional government It was a disasrer, Russian front collapsed, pushed back hundreds of km, Russian military couldn't rely on soldiers |
| How was the Petrograd Soviet formed? | Set up after Mensheviks encouraged workers to set up a soviet First represented foctory workers, but became dominated by soldiers Difficult to reach agreements, large meetings Executive committee made most of the actual decisions |
| How could the Petrograd Soveit have pushed out the Provisional Government? | They had legitimacy- they were elected and respected by ordinary Russians They passed Order Number 1 |
| Why didn't the Petrograd Soviet challange the Provisional Government? | Worried about tsarist forces tying to take control Run by Mensheviks and Marxits- believed in abourgeois phase before a socialist revolution, the PG was a bourgeois government Russia already had many problems to deal with, did not want blame |
| What did the Petrograd Soviet do instead of directly challenging the Provisional Government? | Influence government policies (demanded freedom of political prisoners and aboliton of the police) Order Number 1 was a problem for PG , difficult especially in a time of war- the military couldn't act unless soviet approved |
| Describe the background of the process of Lenin's return to Russia | Desperate to return to Russia, had been in exile for 10 years, only new about February Revolution through reports, he was in Switzerland |
| Describe the German involvement in Lenin's return to Russia | To get to Russia from Switzerland, Lenin had to cross Germany Germany wanted Lenin back in Russia as he wanted to end the war, and stir up and weaken Russia Worried Lenin encouraging revolution in Germany He eventually traveled on a sealed train |
| What was the position of the Bolsheviks like at the time of Lenin's return? | Kamenec and Stalin (Bolsheviks) agreed with the Mensheviks that they were along way from a socialist revolution Defend Febraruy revolution from a counter-revolution Speeches to campaign for more followers, helped workers organise strikes |
| Describe Lenin's arrival in Russia | April 3 1917: arrived ar Finland Station in Petrograd Met by a crows of supporters |
| What did the April Thesis outline? | Lenin called for: an end to cooperation with the PG (and supporting parties) ; end to the war;land to be given to the peasants; Soviets to take state power from PG;nationalisation of industry; educate workers and peasants; abolish aristocracy, |
| What was Lenin's opinion on Marxism? | Devoted follower of Karl Marx He didn' want to wait untile Russia was capitalist with a huge poletartiat, Marxism happen rather than discuss the theory He wanted a working class revolution immediatley, not to wait after the middle class revolution |
| What were Lenin's two simple slogans? | 'Peace, land, and bread' 'All power to the Soviets!' |
| How did the Bolshevik party rank among other parties in Russia at this time? | SRs had more support especially among peasants Mensheviks more popular in workers in cities Soviets were not Bolshevik organisations June 1917 'All Russian Congress'- only 13% Bolshevik, 66% SRs and Mensheviks |
| How did Lenin help the Bolsheviks to increase support? | Strong personality Absolute determination: (worked 16 hours a day 7 days a week) Strong leadership |
| How else did the Bolsheviks grow in the summer of 1917? | Trotsky's excellent organisation, weakness of PG Over 40 newspapers ( including Pravda) spread ideas April Thesis clear Successful in recruiting militias - the Red Guard (10,000 in Petrograd by July) Germany secretly sent the Bolsheviks money |
| Desribe Lenin's decision to seize power from the Provisonal Government | Knew SRs would win an election, act fast Follow 'All Power to the Soviets', Bolsheviks would hand over the state for the Soviets to run- do this for the proletariat Supported by workers, believed help take control of factories for themselves |
| List some key facts about Lenin | His brother was hanged after attempting to kill the tsar He was in exile in Austria, Switzerland, and later Finland Kicked out of his first university Suffered 2 strokes (1922, 24)- he was shot and died in assassination attempt, body was ambalmed |
| What was the background to the July Days? | March 1917: The PG introduced bread rationing, war was using up vital food and fuel June 1917: PG launched June offensive which failed, Russian front collaped, Russian military could not rely on soldiers to follow orders |
| What were the three main reasons for the July Days (3-7 July)? | 1) continuing shortages of food in major cities 2) failure of June Offensive 3) effective Bolshevik propaganda against the PG |
| What were the events of the July Days uprising? | Started by anarchist revolutionaries, convinced soldiers to join anti-government demonstration Bolsheviks tried to prevent, decided to join (Lenin thought PG would fall, similar to Feb) Workers and soldiers marched banners, power to soviets |
| How was the July Days uprising stopped? | Petrograd Soviet didn't support, don't trust Bolsheviks They worked with the PG July 4: thunderstorm dispeared crowds July 5: government brought troops back from the front and asked them to surround the Bolshevik headquarters |
| What happened to the Bolsheviks after the July Days? | Hundreds were arrested, including Trotsky Lenin escaped to Finland, plans to overthrow PG lay in ruins |
| Why did Kerensky appoint Kornilov as his commander in chief? | 1) Kerensky became leader of the PG after the July days 2) Planned to restore disciplinearmy to prevent defeat in the war, economy, Bolshevik opposition , restore order- he knew support woukd increase if success July 18, appointed Kornilov to help |
| What did Kornilov and Kerensky agree to do with the army? | They agreed to brung troops into Petrograd to use in case of unrest as many refugees had come into russia |
| What issues did Kerensky encounter with Kornilov? | Difficult to control- Kornilov wanted intoduce martial law and break the power of the soviets ( middle classes supported, they were worried about workers siezing their property) Kerensky dismissed Kornilov, as he saw this as a threat to his leadership |
| What did Kornilov do after his dismisal? | August 24: Kornilov sent troops to petrograd hoping to shut down Petrograd soviet and restore order He also issued a manifesto, attacking the Bolsheviks;demanded war continue;called for constituent assembly |
| How did Kerensky react to Kornilov's decision? | Kerensky feared Kornilov would use military Kereknsky allowed Bolsheviks arm ed guard (put Petrograd martial law) Bolsheviks defence-convinced Kornilov's troops to stop march and desert officers Railway workers blocked Kornilov's route |
| What happened to Kornilov? | He was arrested on September 1 |
| How did the Kornilov revolt decrease support for Kerensky and the Provisional Government? | Kerensky weak relying on the Bolsheviks to defend Petrograd and his government Army discipline also collapsed: officers accused of counter-revolutions (hundredfs murdered), soldiers deserted Peasant riots, land siezing increased - punnishment brigades |
| How did the Kornilov revolt increase support for the Bolsheviks? | Appeared to have saved Petrograd More Bolsheviks elected to soviets (soon had control of Petrograd- majority), Trotsky elected president of the soviet Increased their memberships: 24,000 at start of 1917, 340,000 by October including 60,000 in Petrograd |
| How did the Red Guard further assist the Bolsheviks after the Kornilov revolt? | Added military power to the Bolsheviks: 40,000 Bolshevik supporters kept hold of their weapons after the Kornilov revolt |
| Why is the Kornilov revolt considered a turning point in the Russian Revolution? | It boosted support for the Bolsheviks while weakening Kerensky and the Provisional Government |
| Key event 1: Lenin returns to Russia | October 10: Lenin secretly returned to Petrograd from Finland They could tell that the PG was close to collapse In a meeting with senior Bolsheviks, Lenin put forward the case for an armed takeover of power |
| Key event 2: The military revolutionary committee is set up | Rumours of Bolshevik armed takeover Kerensky tried to send all Bolshevik-influenced army units out of Petrograd The Petrogras soviet to claim Kerensky was planning counter-revolution attack so set up the MRC, brought together soviet supporting soldiers |
| Why was the Military revolutionary Committee imporant? | By October 21, most of Petrograd's regiment promised loyalty to the MRC |
| Key event 3: Kerensky tries to stop the Bolsheviks (his actions) | Kerensky orders a crackdown on Bolsheviks: closing their newspapers, calling for arrest of MRC, blocked river crossing between city centre and working class districts |
| Key event 3: Kerensky tries to stop the Bolsheviks (response) | Lenin and Trotsky call this counter-revolution Trotsky as head of PS uses MRC to take control of road and canal bridges, army headquaters and telegraph offices- Kerensky has to travel by car to find some soldiers to defend |
| Key event 4: The Bolsheviks sieze control | 24-25 October the Red Guard seize important areas of city with little opposition 25-26 October Bolshevik soldiers climb through the windows of Winter Palace, arrest remaining members of PG |
| How did other political parties react to the Bolshevik takeover? | Many members of the Petrograd Soviet not agree Bolsheviks and left the Soviet in protest, risked setting off a civil war that would ruin Russia and socialim , Trostsky says 'dustbin of history' Left- wing revolutionaires and Bolsheviks left |
| What were the three main reasons for the Bolshevik success in seizing power in October 1917? | 1) The role of Lenin 2) The failures of the Provisional Government 3) The role of Trotsky |
| How did Lenin help the Bolshevik success in October 1917? | 1) Changed the Bolsheviks parties views (clear thinking, strong personality) that Russia was ready for working class revolution 2) April thesis radical thinking, simple, effective 3) Convinced Bolsheviks to seize power now by force, developed statergy |
| How did the failures of the Provisional Government contribute to the Bolshevik success in October 1917? | 1) Kornilov revolt weakened Kerensky and PG and their support decreased- support went to Bolsheviks and SRs 2) Army and navy lost all discipline- could not be relied on to maintain law and order 3) Peasants seizing land, PG lost support of landowners |
| How did the First World War contribute to the success of the Bolshevik takeover in October 1917? | Herman army advancing into Russia, Petrgrad in danger of being attacked and captured, plans made to move capital to Moscow Bolsheviks claimed Kernsky was planning to surrender Petrograd to Germans |
| How did the failures of Kerensky individually contribute to the success of the Bolsheviks in October 1917? | 1) Could have crushed Bolsheviks after July days, underestimated how quickly their support would grow 2) Did not see the danger of October 1917 until it was too late 3) He failed to introduce an elected government 4) Did not bring in radical reforms |
| How did Trotsky help the Bolshevik success in October 1917? | Organsied the Bolshevik takeover of power in Petrograd: well organised, clever tactics, used troops effectively, little opposition Hero among revolutionary socialists, brilliant speeches President of the Petrgrad Soviet- control MRC, military support |
| Why was Trotsky being the President of the Petrograd important for the success of the Bolsheviks in October 1917? | It could have looked like Lenin was seizing power for himself, however because of Trotsky, it looked like the soviets were taking control, not just the Bolsheviks His access to MRC also important, no way Bolsheviks could gain power without force |
| How did the Constituent Assembly elections influence Lenin's decision to takeover in October 1917? | Kerensky had promised Constituent Assembly elections in November 1917 The Bolsheviks were not confident they would win, SRs were very popular Lenin therefore had to act before the November elections |
Created by:
Amelia.taylor