Russian Revolution

February Revolution On Feb. 23rd 1917, working-class women gather in Petrograd to ask for “bread and peace” Men join them and Nicholas II soon orders his troops to fire on them The troops refuse and 80,000 of them join the protestors

The Duma and other political parties secretly say Nicholas II must go Nicholas II abdicates; his brother Michael abdicates The Duma becomes the provisional gov’t Alexander Kerensky becomes temporary prime minister; keeps Russia in WW I

Arrival of Lenin Lenin had been living in exile in Switzerland Germany helps him get to Petrograd by train Arrives April 3rd, 1917 Lenin’s speeches are published, become known as “April Theses”

Lenin’s #1 goal: place Russia under Bolshevik control (Communist) Anti-Provisional Gov’t Tries to organize massive street demonstrations

October Revolution Bolsheviks gain more power over the summer of 1917 However, Kerensky is calling for new elections to take place on Nov.12th Lenin knows it will be much harder to overthrow a gov’t that is legitimately elected

Lenin organizes a Bolshevik army On October 24th, revolutionaries occupy key posts in Petrograd: telegraph offices, banks, railroad stations, bridges By October 25th, the Winter Palace was the only gov’t building not taken

Kerensky flees morning of Oct. 25th His officials stay, thinking he’ll bring back troops The palace is surrounded, but revolutionaries refuse to fire on Russians The officials are persuaded to give up and are arrested

Aftermath Kerensky flees to Europe, then eventually becomes a professor of history in the U.S. Lenin declares Decree of Peace (Russia will leave WW I) Decree on Land (Land will be redistributed among peasants) Russia was still on the Julian Calendar; November 7th everywhere else