Bolsheviks
what are the bolsheviks?
The Bolsheviks were a revolutionary political group in Russia led by Vladimir Lenin.
They believed in creating a socialist state through a workers’ revolution.
how do the following effect the bolsheviks:
The Kerensky Offensive- The Kerensky Offensive hurt the Provisional Government because it failed badly and showed the war was hopeless. This made people lose trust in Kerensky and increased support for the Bolsheviks, who had always called for ending the war. Soldiers and workers became more radical, many turning to the Bolsheviks, which helped the party gain strength before the October Revolution.
The July Days- The July Days were violent protests led by soldiers and workers in Petrograd, but they failed and the Provisional Government blamed the Bolsheviks. At first this hurt the Bolsheviks — their leaders were arrested or went into hiding, and the party seemed weakened. But when the Provisional Government continued to fail, people later saw that the Bolsheviks had been unfairly blamed, which actually increased sympathy and helped the party regain support before October.
The Konilov Coup- The Kornilov Coup was a failed attempt by General Kornilov to overthrow the Provisional Government in August 1917. Kerensky panicked and asked the Bolsheviks to help defend Petrograd, giving them weapons and releasing their imprisoned leaders. When the coup collapsed, the Bolsheviks looked like heroes who had saved the city, while Kerensky looked weak. This massively increased support for the Bolsheviks and helped them gain the power they needed to win in October.
the timelines:
febuary- Kerensky Offensive (Many deserters, Capital now full of soldiers, command hierarchy in army collapsed)
march- abdication of the Tsar
april- Return of Lenin and his creation of the April Theses which stated that the Bolsheviks should not join the PG. New Bolshevik Slogan – Peace, Bread, Land.
may- PG gets wind of MRC revolt and moves in on the Bolsheviks – perfect excuse for the Bolshevik uprising which they can now claim is self-defence.
june- Second All Russian Congress of Soviets – Bolshevik government chosen after Right SR and Mensheviks leave in protest.
july- July Days – seems like the end for the Soviets
august- Arrest of soviet leaders and exile of Lenin to Finland
september- More and more workers begin to support the Bolsheviks due to Bolshevik propaganda, unemployment, and the fact that their traditional support, the SR, who seemed to have betrayed them by joining the PG.
october- First All Russian Congress of Soviets, Lenin declares the Bolsheviks are ready to take power