october revolution Flashcards
(25 cards)
When did the October Revolution take place?
October 1917
What was the nature of the takeover by the Bolshevik Red Guards?
Almost bloodless
Which two cities did the Bolsheviks take control of during the October Revolution?
Petrograd and Moscow
What was the Provisional Government established to replace?
The tsar’s government
What were the local councils that emerged across Russia in 1917 called?
Soviets
Who were the key leaders of the Bolsheviks during the October Revolution?
Lenin and Trotsky
What was the main slogan used by Lenin to exploit the failures of the Provisional Government?
‘Bread, Peace and Land’
Fill in the blank: The Bolsheviks were the only party with a _______.
political programme
What role did Trotsky play in the October Revolution?
Organised the uprising
What was the Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC)?
Bolshevik-controlled organization that carried out the October Revolution
True or False: The Bolsheviks became more popular than the Mensheviks by October 1917.
True
What was the Petrograd Soviet’s Order No. 1?
It instructed soldiers to obey the Soviet rather than the Provisional Government in case of conflict.
What were the weaknesses of the Provisional Government?
- Provisional nature
- Coalition government
- Reluctance to pass legislation
- Failure to introduce land reforms
What mistake did Kerensky make regarding the Okhrana?
Disbanded it, which had previously helped restrict revolutionary parties
What major military decision did Kerensky make that contributed to the downfall of the Provisional Government?
Decided to continue with World War I
What was the Kornilov affair?
An event where General Kornilov marched on Petrograd, leading to the Bolsheviks being armed.
What was the impact of the Kornilov affair on the Bolsheviks?
Boosted their reputation as defenders of Petrograd.
Fill in the blank: The Bolsheviks had only _______ members in February 1917.
25,000
By October 1917, how many members did the Bolsheviks have?
Almost 350,000
Who were the Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs)?
A group of socialist opponents of the Bolsheviks.
What was the dual authority between the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet?
A situation where both shared power, weakening the Provisional Government.
What did Lenin realize about the soviets in 1917?
That they were the real government rather than the Provisional Government.
What was the significance of Lenin’s April Theses?
It called for the ‘handing over of all power to the soviets’ and immediate withdrawal from the war.
