The October/November 1917 Revolution

Question 1

What triggered the cause of the October/ nov rebellion?

Answer 1

Lenin returned to Russia in secret and spent the night convincing the Bolshevik central committe to agree to an armed uprising

Question 2

What were the factors that contributed to Lenin’s decision that it was the right time for a Bolshevik Revolution?

Answer 2

• the Bolsheviks dominated soviets across Russia
• PG was v weak - kerensky’s credibility was reduced after the kornilov coup
• the Bolsheviks had the red guards, armed by Kerensky during the kornilov coup

Question 3

What did the Bolsheviks use an excuse to act?

Answer 3

The PG sending troops to cut off Bolshevik area of the city from the centre, and ordering 2 Bolshevik newspapers to close down.

Question 4

Key points of the revolution?

Answer 4

• red guards (and soldiers and sailors from Kronstadt) - capture key positions in Petrograd
• they enter the winter palace
• all remaining members of the PG are arrested
• Sovnarkom is set up by Lenin to run the government
• bolsheviks take control of 18 principal cities
• Bolsheviks gain control of Moscow after a 10 day battle
• Lenin announces that the revolution has succeeded

Question 5

How many people did the revolution involve?

Answer 5

25,000-35,000 people (approx 5% of workers and soldiers in Petrograd)

Question 6

What did the revolution focus on?

Answer 6

Take over of a few strategic targets

Question 7

What do critics of the ‘Heroic Lenin’ say?

Answer 7

That Lenin was not the driver of the revolution and was absent for most of 1917. Also claim that it was not a popular revolution.

Question 8

How did the revolution help with the establishment of Bolshevik authority?

Answer 8

• the revolution transferred power to the all-Russian congress of Soviet’s
• when Bolsheviks won majority of seats on its executive committee, other parties walked out, laving Bol and left wing SRs in control
• Sovnarkom set up to help run the government - Lenin = chairman

Question 9

Why did it take the Bolsheviks a while to establish their control?

Answer 9

• at first, civil servants refused to work or the Bol gov
• the bols had to establish their authority outside of Petrograd and combat the opposition forces organised by Kerensky (mainly Cossacks)
• Bol military force was weakened

Question 10

What was Lenin’s decree on peace?

Answer 10

Promised an end to war, an armistice followed in November

Question 11

What was the decree to establish the Cheka?

Answer 11

Created Cheka to root out opposition - secret police force

Question 12

What was the decree on worker’s rights?

Answer 12

Limited working day to 8 hours, gave unemployment benefits and benefits for old people etc., allowed workers to ‘supervise’ managers.

Question 13

What were the social decrees?

Answer 13

Banned the opposition press, established people’s courts, gave equal rights for women, removed marriage and divorce from church control.

Question 14

What was the decree on land?

Answer 14

Abolished private ownership of land, legitimised peasant seizures of land from landlords, reduced peasant support for the SRs.

Question 15

What were Lenin’s steps to combat opposition to Bolshevik control of Russia?

Answer 15

• the Cheka could arrest anyone it suspected
• members of opposition parties were arrested and imprisoned
• anti-Bolshevik newspapers were shut down