GCSE History Russia Test 21/09/26

Who was the first Prime Minister of the Provisional Government?

Prince Lvov, an aristocratic landowner

Who was Kerensky?

The Minister of Justice and then the Minister of War

Who was the Provisional Government made up of?

Middle-class members of the Duma

What did the Provisional Government allow?

Inspired by the idea of liberal democracy, it allowed freedom of speech, press and association. It abolished the death penalty

What was the downside of the Provisional Government allowing the citizens of Russia more freedom?

It deprived itself of vital coercive powers to maintain order

What was the sharing of power between the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet known as?

The “dual authority”

Who was the Petrograd Soviet dominated by?

Moderates (Socialist Revolutionaries and Mensheviks)

Why did the Dual Authority clash?

They disagreed on whether or not to continue the war with Germany

Why was Lenin given money by the Germans to return to Russia in April 1917?

They wanted Lenin to pull Russia out of the war

What did Lenin use the money given by the Germans for?

Propaganda and buying weapons

Why was the Bolshevik party successful, despite being small?

It was tightly disciplined

What two slogans did Lenin use in the April Theses?

“Bread, Peace and Land” and “All power to the Soviets”

What two things did Lenin promise in the April Theses?

Peace with Germany and distribution of land to the peasants

Why did the July Days fail?

The army remained loyal under Kerensky, who was Minister of War

What did the July Days reveal about the Provisional Government?

How unstable and weak they were

What happened to Kerensky after the July Days?

He became Prime Minister

What did Kornilov think about the July Days?

He thought that the Provisional Government was too weak to prevent a slide towards a socialist government and the Soviets’ aim to end the war

Why did Kerensky try to stop Kornilov?

He feared that Kornilov would set up a military dictatorship under himself

What was an advantage of Trotsky’s role as Chairman of the MRC?

The MRC controlled the army garrison and navy in Petrograd

What date did the Red Guard capture all communications and government buildings in Petrograd?

24 October 1917

What happened on the 25 October 1917?

The Aurora Battleship fired on the Winter Palace, where the Provisional Government was in session and the Red Guard “stormed the building”

How many soldiers died in the night of the 25 October?

8 - it was a bloodless revolution