A-Level History - Provisional Government 1917

What were the Petrograd demonstrations in January?

Strikes to commemorate the anniversary of Bloody Sunday and further strikes about food shortages had brought workers onto the streets

What happened on 14th February 1917?

Further strikes about food shortages and poor working conditions

What did even the State Duma complain about?

Food shortages

However, how did the government make this worse?

By announcing rationing would be extended, for bread. This led to panic buying and even more shortages

What happened on February 23rd 1917?

Thousands of women marched in the streets for International Women’s Day, there was also a strike from the Putilov Works

How many people on the streets?

100,000

What happened on February 24th 1917?

Marches and strikes were joined by soviets demonstrating about food shortages, rationing and demanding an 8 hour day

What was the government reaction?

On the 25th, the government police arrested many demonstrators, newspapers were shut and much public transport

Why did the Tsar and government start to lose control and support from the armed forces?

Cossack troops refused to fire on demonstrators, Pavlovksy lifeguards refused to obey orders, the Volinksy Regiment mutinied and even joined the rebels

What did the State Duma do?

Was told to disband the Tsar, instead they created a 12 man committee to take over running the country

What happened by 28th Feb 1917?

Tsar had lost control over the workers, armed forced and Duma

What did the Tsar offer?

A power share with the Duma - however, their leader Rodzianko refused

What happened by March 1st?

Workers Soviets had joined together to make the Petrograd Soviet

What did they quickly announce?

Order Number 1

Which was?

To gain control over the armed forces and demanded the superiority of the Soviet over other powers and that all officers should be elected by their men

What did Nicholas try and do on 28th Feb?

Return to Petrograd, but his train was stopped by anti-government protestors

Why did the Tsar abdicate?

Members of the State Duma convinced him of the need to abdicate - in order to bring stability and peace

Who did Nicholas nominate to take the throne?

Grand Duke Michael, however, he refused and Russia then ceased to have a monarchy

What was then formed?

Prov Gov with members of State Duma

Who was announced of Prime Minister?

Prince Llvov

Why were reforms introduced?

To highlight that Russia was now a liberal, democratic country, eg. freedom of the press, religion, speech, no censorship

What were the early reforms?

*abolition of the Okhrana (secret police)

*right to trial by jury

*release of political prisoners

*preparations for Constituent Assembly

Although their reforms were praised for their liberal values, what did they also release?

Potential threats to the Prov Gov through release of political prisoners and relaxation of censorship

Why was there a problem of legitimacy?

Members had been part of the State Duma, as a group who had asked for reform from the Tsar. Therefore, they had connections with the old order and had been elected

Why was it a problem that the prov gov was dominated by the Octoburists and Kadets?

These were minority groups and centrist, therefore not reflective of the growing popularity of more radical and left-wing parties such as Bolsheviks and SR’s

What had the Petrograd Soviet developed from?

Numerous workers, soldiers and sailor Soviets that developed in February

By June, what had the Petrograd Soviet developed to?

All Russian Soviet - also declared the right to make laws, e.g. Order No 1: preferential control over the army

From March-Oct 1917, what did the PG and Petrograd Soviet share?

Political power (dual authority)

Where was there some areas of collaboration?

May (members of Soviet joined the PG. Kerensky was Vice Chairman of Petrograd Soviet and became leader of PG in July)

What were the differences between the two?

PG was still mainly liberal, but Petrograd Soviet became increasingly left wing and radical

By March, why was war a massive problem?

*loss of territory in Poland and Western Russia

*millions of soldiers has been killed

*morale in armed forces was low

*mutiny by soldiers or sailors was common

Why did the PG feel compelled to continue fighting?

They were allies to France and Britain, and also owed these countries money from loans

Why was there some improvements in morale for 1st months after February Revolution?

As soldiers were now fighting for democracy and not the Tsar. However, as problems continued (deaths and shortages), this morale declined again

Why was there conflict between PG and Petrograd Soviet?

Petrograd Soviet only agreed to continue “without annexations and ammenities” however, PG aimed to take more land from the Ottoman Empire and pledged to continue fighting on same terms as before

What happened in April 1917?

Were war demonstrations against continuation in the war. Foreign Minister Milyukov resigned, also War Minister Ghukov in May

What was the intention of the June Offensive?

To be a large push against Austro-Hungarian army, to gain land for Russia

However, after a couple of days, what was it clear?

That German and Austro-Hungarian armies were winning - this led to many desertions and looting from Russian soldiers

What did the desertions lead to?

Collapse of Russian Army and demonstrations in Petrograd (July Days) - over authority and poor performance of PG

What happened after the collapse of Tsarist autocracy?

Administration and government throughout Russia collapsed. The PG only had control in the major cities

Therefore, what did many peasants feel entitled to?

A greater share of land, began seizing land off landowners, often including violence

After the failure of the June Offensive, what did many soldiers do?

Returned to the countryside and increased illegal land redistribution

What did the illegal land distribution highlight?

Lack of control by the PG and chaos that was occurring by the number of 1917

What did Lenin believe in?

Karl Marx’s ideas of development of society - that it would evolve eventually into a socialist and eventually communist society, where everyone was equal

What did Lenin realise?

That most of Europe was at the capitalist stage, as it has become heavily industrialised

However, why was Russia behind?

As it was still heavily agricultural, with little industry

How did Lenin believe he could help Russia progress quicker?

Through creating a small “Vanguard” party to lead the workers through - with himself as leader, as explained in his publication “What is to be done?” 1902

What did this belief cause?

A split in the Social Democratic Party in 1903 - with his new faction “The Bolsheviks” aiming to be the Vanguard

What was Lenin’s return to Russia at Finland Station?

Well publicised, and there were large crowds to greet him, however his speech came as a great surprise to many

What did Lenin say in his speech at Finland Station?

Condemned the PG as bourgeois and capitalist, claiming they should be overturned through a full societal revolution

Where was Lenin’s key ideas written in?

“The April Thesis”

What were the key ideas in the “April Thesis”?

*argued the February Revolution could be immediately followed by a Socialist Revolution

*war was imperialist and should be ended immediately

*no support for the PG and power should be with the proleterians and peasants, through a soviet government

*abolition of police, army and bureaucracy

*confiscation of land from landowners and aristocracy

How else did Lenin try and win support?

He held many speeches, publications, membership drives

Why did Lenin promote the importance of the Soviets?

As these were very popular with the workers and he realised this was a way to gain influence

What did the slogan “All power to the Soviet’s” capitalise on?

People’s concerns that the PG was made up of middle classes and landowners, therefore out of touch with the ordinary workers and peasants

Who did the “Peace, Bread, Land” slogan appeal to?

Main desires of Russians - to stop the fighting in the war, to redistribute land for the peasants, to end food shortages

What did Lenin promote Bolsheviks as?

Being able to create international socialism worldwide

Early attempts at gaining power- 21st April?

Lenin arranged for factory workers to demonstrate on the streets, but not many joined and police dispersed them

What about June 9th 1917?

Lenin failed to get support from the Petrograd Soviet to demonstrate over the failure of the June Offensive

However (June 9th 1917)?

He was successful in increasing support and membership, many within the Petrograd Soviet also became Bolsheviks

What happened on July 2nd of July Days?

Concert for troops leaving for the front turned into an anti-government rally, with demands that power should be given to soviet

What did these troops set up?

A Provisional Revolutionary Committee to campaign against PG

What happened on 3rd July?

Thousands of workers and soldiers demonstrated outside the Marinsky Palace

However, why did the July Days fail to make an impact?

Were without leadership and protection

What did the July Days demonstrations help to do?

To unite the PG and Petrograd Soviet, as they met to discuss how to bring order

What happened on 4/5th of July?

More factory workers under orders from Bolsheviks continued demonstrations outside of the Tauride Palace, waiting for an order to seize control

However, what was the outcome of 4/5th of July?

No order came from Bolshevik leadership - PG also arranged for troops to deal with the demonstrations and eventually Bolshevik leadership called off demonstrations

What happened on July 6th?

Troops arrested 500 Bolsheviks and Lenin fled in disguise for Finland

How did the July Days damage the Bolsheviks?

*demonstrators had lacked clear leadership and instructions from Bolshevik leaders

*had united the PG and Petrograd Soviet - appearing in greater control

*Lenin was accused of being a German spy - due to Germany’s assistance in his journey to Russia and supplies of weapons

Therefore, why did it look like a revolution wouldn’t occur?

With Lenin in exile and leaders of Bolsheviks imprisoned

Why did the Kornilov Affair increase support for Bolsheviks?

*further problems for PG in August

*peasants were continuing to seize land, soldiers were deserting, industry was declining further, Germany and Austria Hungary had taken all of Riga

What did Kornilov become in July?

Commander in Chief of the Army

What did Kornilov fear?

Another attempt at a left wing takeover and revolution, therefore ordered troops into Petrograd

However, what did Kerensky fear?

That Kornilov was attempting a military takeover and ordered his arrest. Kerensky armed workers and many of these Bolsheviks in order to defeat Kornilov and his troops

Why did this outcome help the Bolsheviks?

Kerensky and PG looked weak - as they had needed support to deal with the situation, also the appointment of Kornilov looked like a misjudgement

What did Kerensky reliance on Bolsheviks make the Bolsheviks appear?

More respectable as defenders of Petrograd. This helped increase membership to the Bolshevik Party

By end of September, how many Bolsheviks members were there?

200,000

What had the Bolshevik members produced?

41 newspapers across Russia, continued with slogans such as “Peace, Bread, Land”

What did the Bolsheviks create?

An elite force of 10,000 Red Guards from factory workers - which gained from Kornilov Affair

What did the PG announce in August?

That elections would take place for a Constiuent Assembly in November

What did Lenin realise?

That the SR’s would do the best in these elections and therefore the Bolsheviks needed to seize power before November

By end of September, what did the Bolsheviks have?

Majority of seats in Petrograd Soviet - although the PG was becoming more unpopular, the Petrograd Soviet still remained popular with workers

What happened on 10th October?

Lenin returned to Petrograd and met the Central Committee of Bolshevik Party. He convinced them that an armed takeover of power was necessary at end of October

Why was the Military Revolutionary Committee established?

Due to a fear of German attack on the city

Who was it chaired by and what was the majority of its members?

Trotsky and Bolsheviks

Seizure of power - 24th October?

In the morning, PG started to close down Bolshevik newspapers in Petrograd. Lenin feared that PG were finally starting to shut down the Bolsheviks and realised they must act immediately to gain power

What happened in the evening of the 24th?

MRC units and Red Guard units led by Trotsky took over key locations and communications in the city: telephone exchanges, railway stations, etc. To make it difficult to escape from

What happened on October 25th 1917?

MRC and Red Guards “stormed the Winter Palace” and arrested PG members, Kerensky had already fled dressed as a nurse

What happened on 26th October 1917?

*meeting for All Russian Congress of Soviets, Lenin declare PG had been overthrown

*on the left and Bolsheviks supported Lenin and voted for a new socialist government

*the “Moderates” in the Soviets (Mensheviks and SRs) didn’t and in protest they walked out of Congress

Thereby, what did this leave?

Full control to the Bolsheviks

What was then created in October 1917?

Sovnarkom (cabinet) and was completely made up of Bolshevik members

Give reasons why the PG was doomed from the start?

*viewed as illegitimate from start, as it was unelected, members from Old Duma and included those from nobility

*had to share power with Petrograd Soviet - who was more popular with workers, soldiers and sailors. Disagreed on issues

*reforms brought in by the PG - increased and allowed opposition to develop

*PG felt unable to solve the “land issue” as they weren’t an elected government - let to dissatisfaction and loss of control in the countryside

*through alliances and debt with Britain and France - PG felt obliged to continue in the war. However, this angered and created harsh conditions for many Russians

Why was the PG not doomed from the start?

*succeeded in its main aim for preparing for the elections for a Constituent Assembly - which did occur in November

*reforms were popular (but did aid opposition)

*generally popular at the start (liberal minded and Milyukov and Guchlov were well known and popular)

*Kornilov Affair could be viewed as an important turning point in July - legitimised and brought popularity to Bolsheviks. Before, no real threat to PG

Why was Lenin’s return in April a turning point?

Until then many Bolsheviks had supported the PG - as he claimed and persuaded his party they needed to be overthrown and couldn’t be worked with

What did Lenin’s clear messages and propaganda do?

Increased support and membership, they appealed to the fears and angers of the Russians. E.g. “Peace, Land, Bread”, “Power to the Soviets”, April Thesis

Why was the Kornilov Affair an important turning point?

As Bolsheviks appeared as defenders and were now armed with weapons

What did the misjudgement over the Kornilov Affair do?

Weakened their position and gave strength to the opposition

What did the PG fail to do?

Tackle main concerns - war, land, food and industry shortages

What did delays in arranging the Constituent Assembly mean?

No legitimate government was able to govern and make the necessary reforms

Where was there underestimation and poor judgement to deal with opposition?

July Days Protests, slow to realise the plotting of the Bolsheviks in October until it was too late