The Fall of the Provisional Government and The Bolshevik Rise to Power

How Does the Prov. Govt lose power? Inherent weakness – Petrograd Soviet Inherent weakness – Petrograd Soviet Not popularly elected – and conscious of it Not popularly elected – and conscious of it Remained involved in WW1 – disaster Remained involved in WW1 – disaster Associations with Tsarist regime Associations with Tsarist regime

The Kornilov Affair Confusion over the truth … Confusion over the truth … Did Kerensky ask Kornilov to help curb Soviet led disturbances in Petrograd or … Did Kerensky ask Kornilov to help curb Soviet led disturbances in Petrograd or … Did Kornilov move beyond his orders and plan a coup or … Did Kornilov move beyond his orders and plan a coup or … Did Kerensky plan to have Kornilov destroy the Soviet but then changed his mind? Did Kerensky plan to have Kornilov destroy the Soviet but then changed his mind?

Results of Kornilov Affair Kornilov’s troops opposed by Red Guard Kornilov’s troops opposed by Red Guard Kornilov surrenders Kornilov surrenders Kerensky loses authority over indecision – Soviet no longer supportive Kerensky loses authority over indecision – Soviet no longer supportive BOLSHEVIKS ARE FREED AND ARMED!!! BOLSHEVIKS ARE FREED AND ARMED!!!

Why the Bolsheviks? Lenin’s ‘April Theses’ Lenin’s ‘April Theses’ ‘Peace, Bread and Land’ / ‘All power to the Soviets’ ‘Peace, Bread and Land’ / ‘All power to the Soviets’ Support of urban working class Support of urban working class After the fiasco of Kornilov – they increased local Duma representation by 164% After the fiasco of Kornilov – they increased local Duma representation by 164%

Timetable for Power Oct 6 – Duma dissolved Oct 6 – Duma dissolved Oct 10 – Lenin calls for overthrow of Prov. Govt Oct 10 – Lenin calls for overthrow of Prov. Govt Oct 20 – Kerensky fails to take defensive measures. Trotsky organises Military Revolutionary Committee – approx. 230,000 troops Oct 20 – Kerensky fails to take defensive measures. Trotsky organises Military Revolutionary Committee – approx. 230,000 troops Oct – Bolsheviks seize key points in Petrograd, surround Winter Palace, arrest ministers and Lenin proclaims that Petrograd Soviet is now in power Oct – Bolsheviks seize key points in Petrograd, surround Winter Palace, arrest ministers and Lenin proclaims that Petrograd Soviet is now in power Oct 25 – Bolsheviks meet political opposition, agree to coalition government including other Left SR’s Oct 25 – Bolsheviks meet political opposition, agree to coalition government including other Left SR’s

Timetable for Power – 1917/18 Late Oct – A series of armed risings against Bolsheviks put down Late Oct – A series of armed risings against Bolsheviks put down Nov 12 – New elections held, Bolsheviks gain only 25% of vote! Nov 12 – New elections held, Bolsheviks gain only 25% of vote! Dec 8 – Russia withdraws from WW1 Dec 8 – Russia withdraws from WW1 Jan 15 – Workers and Peasants Red Army formed Jan 15 – Workers and Peasants Red Army formed Feb 1 – Red Fleet introduced Feb 1 – Red Fleet introduced Mar 19 – Left Sr’s leave Govt over Treaty of Brest Litovsk Mar 19 – Left Sr’s leave Govt over Treaty of Brest Litovsk July 3 – New Constitution announced – Russia declared a one-party republic. Soviets all powerful. Bolsheviks (by now the Communist Party) appoints the first Executive Committee July 3 – New Constitution announced – Russia declared a one-party republic. Soviets all powerful. Bolsheviks (by now the Communist Party) appoints the first Executive Committee

Inevitable? Transition was not smooth Transition was not smooth Widespread opposition – reflected in the ensuing Civil War Widespread opposition – reflected in the ensuing Civil War By no means inevitable – after July Days Bolshevism at a very low ebb By no means inevitable – after July Days Bolshevism at a very low ebb Seized an opportunity – coordinated themselves and were led well Seized an opportunity – coordinated themselves and were led well It would take 5 years before the Bolsheviks were in complete control It would take 5 years before the Bolsheviks were in complete control

Role of Lenin The Historiographical Debate Key Figure A vital figurehead and coordinator A vital figurehead and coordinator Organised propaganda and recognised the opportunities Organised propaganda and recognised the opportunities Directed operations and planned Oct revolution Directed operations and planned Oct revolution His rhetoric inspired loyalty and uprising His rhetoric inspired loyalty and uprising Genius of April Theses Genius of April Theses Limited impact Revolution came about through wider social factors He was not in Russia for most of 1917 Prov Govt own actions largely to blame The ideas and demands of the people drove policy, not the other way around

June 2006 ‘In contrast to the spontaneous nature of the overthrow of tsarism in Feb 1917, the Bolshevik success of October 1917 was a triumph of planning.’ Explain why you agree or disagree with this statement (15 marks) Might comment on the nature of Feb 1917 briefly and its spontaneous nature Might comment on the nature of Feb 1917 briefly and its spontaneous nature Certainly more organisation in October 1917 – meetings and planning Certainly more organisation in October 1917 – meetings and planning Importance of Trotsky as military leader Importance of Trotsky as military leader Lenin had to plan how to defeat factions in his party over timetable Lenin had to plan how to defeat factions in his party over timetable Lenin’s return is important, showed an awareness of the situation Lenin’s return is important, showed an awareness of the situation Will also look at inherent weakness of Prov Govt Will also look at inherent weakness of Prov Govt Lack of viable alternative opposition Lack of viable alternative opposition Mention Kornilov Affair as reason for Govt weakness – link to Bolshevik revival Mention Kornilov Affair as reason for Govt weakness – link to Bolshevik revival Fairly easy nature of October takeover – followed by struggle for control across Russia Fairly easy nature of October takeover – followed by struggle for control across Russia Power base initially limited to Moscow and Petrograd Power base initially limited to Moscow and Petrograd A direct comparison of the events and nature of the two revolutions is needed A direct comparison of the events and nature of the two revolutions is needed For 14/15 marks Good detail of the nature of Oct revolution – planned or not? Good detail of the nature of Oct revolution – planned or not? Will avoid just retelling the story of 1917 – more analysis than narrative Will avoid just retelling the story of 1917 – more analysis than narrative Come to a sustained judgement, through analysis, of the question Come to a sustained judgement, through analysis, of the question Will look at events across the time period Feb to Oct 1917 Will look at events across the time period Feb to Oct 1917

Explain why the first Russian Revolution of 1917 was followed by a second only eight months later. (15 marks) 5 minutes to plan