Bolshevik Seizure of Power Flashcards
(52 cards)
How much involvement did the Bolsheviks have in the February revolution? Why?
Little involvement, they only had 10,000 members at this point. Lenin was in Zurich during the revolution and the party had not expected to see a revolution for a long time.
What evidence is there that the Bolsheviks wanted to accommodate rather than listen to Lenin’s calls for a class war?
- Pravda urged “critical support” for the new government and soviet
- The Marxist view believed in having a bourgeois revolution first and that was what February turned out to be
- Some Bolsheviks wanted to reunite with the Mensheviks of the RSDLP – important to reduce hostility and maximise democratic chances
- Kamenev and Stalin supported working with the PG (some of the first leading figures back in Petrograd)
When did Lenin arrive in Petrograd? What were the key ideas in his April Theses?
April 1917
1) The Soviets would be the basis for a new revolutionary government
2) The war would be immediately ended
3) Co-operation with the PG would end
4) Land would be given to the peasants
5) A worldwide socialist revolution would be borne out of Russia and other countries would support them in doing so.
What was Lenin’s slogan to sum up his April Theses?
“Peace, Bread, Land”
Why was Lenin opposed to the war?
He thought it was carried out to benefit the bourgeoisie and capitialists. He thought it simultaneously was the cause of the socio-economic grievances of the proletariat.
How did Lenin justify his Theses and the need for a socialist revolution?
- He argued the Bourgeoisie was too weak to carry out the democratic revolution
- Claimed that the proletariat already had power in the soviets
- Classed peasants with the proletariat due to the idea of class consciousness
- Thought that the socialist revolution would first hapen in a backward capitalist society like Russia before sparking off further revolutions in Europe.
What was the consequence of the April Theses?
It framed the Bolsheviks in clear opposition to the PG
What was Bolshevik party membership in February 1917? April 1917?
February 1917 - 23,000
April 1917 - 100,000
What proportion of votes did the Bolsheviks acquire in the Moscow municipal elections in July and October?
July - 11%
October - 51%
When did the First All Russian Congress of Soviets meet? What was the membership of the three main revolutionary parties in the congress?
June 1917
SRs = 285
Mensh = 248
Bolsh = 105
How did the All Russian Congress of Soviets indirectly challenge the PG?
It was an alternative body which had electoral legitimacy
Its existence added strength to the Bolshevik slogan - “All power to the Soviets”
What did Lenin declare at the All Russian Congress of Soviets? What did the congress prevent the Bolsheviks from doing?
- He declared that the Bolsheviks were ready to take government alone
- Congress however prevented the Bolsheviks from staging a major demonstration in Petrograd shortly after the meeting
How often did food prices double in 1917?
Every other month
What proportion of bread rations did manual workers receive in October compared to March in Petrograd?
Less than 1/6 of their March rations
What proportion of coal needs were being fulfilled by May?
1/3
During which months was the Putilov factory temporarily closed?
July and September
How many people were registering as unemployed with a union in July? October?
July - 37.4 a day
October - 71.3 a day
How many strikers were there in April? October?
April - 35,000
October - 1.2 million
How many casualties were there in the first few weeks of the Kerensky Offensive which began the 18th June?
400,000
Why did the Bolsheviks grow more appealing to the workers and peasants as 1917 continued?
Since the social, economic and political problems worsened during the period. The PG was incapable of solving food shortages, peasant disturbances in the countryside and holding elections for the CA. Since the other revolutionary parties were part of the PG, workers turned to the Bolsheviks and their promise of “peace, bread, land”.
How did the Bolsheviks try to entice soldiers?
They used “trench Bolshevism” - propaganda targeting soldiers. The promise of peace was attractive for the soldiers. They printed a special version of Pravda for the soldiers.
What were the five main causes of the July Days?
- The Kerensky Offensive and its failure
- The poor socio-economic situtation within Petrograd e.g. Putilov factory closed in July for a month
- The fear of the Petrograd garrison of being sent to the front after Kerensky demobilised two regiments at the front for disobeying orders
- The resignation of 4 Kadet ministers on the 4th July which destabilised government
- The Petrograd demonstration on the 18th June which showed off the strength of the SOviets
What were the July Days (3rd and 4th July)?
The workers and soldiers rose up, marching the streets and commandeering the motors of ministers. 20,000 armed sailors joined the movement on the 4th July from the Kronstadt naval base and marched to the Tauride palace, demanding the Soviet takes power. Chernov came out to try and calm the crowd but was almost lynched
How was the July Uprising put down?
Loyal troops were brought into the city and secured control of it quickly
