The Bolshevik Takeover The Bolshevik seizure of power was a coup arranged at a relatively late stage The Bolshevik seizure of power was a coup arranged at a relatively late stage Trotsky’s Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC) sent small detachments to key positions (telegraph exchange, railways) on night of October Trotsky’s Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC) sent small detachments to key positions (telegraph exchange, railways) on night of October Early morning on 26 th., gunboat Aurora fired on Winter Palace and Bolsheviks sent in armed men to arrest the sitting Provisional Government Early morning on 26 th., gunboat Aurora fired on Winter Palace and Bolsheviks sent in armed men to arrest the sitting Provisional Government

The Bolshevik Takeover The All-Russian Congress of Soviets denounced the Bolshevik actions, but other socialist groups then left the hall (“to the dustbin of history” – Trotsky) leaving the Bolsheviks with a majority. The All-Russian Congress of Soviets denounced the Bolshevik actions, but other socialist groups then left the hall (“to the dustbin of history” – Trotsky) leaving the Bolsheviks with a majority. Lenin declared a Bolshevik government and set up the Sovnarkom consisting of ‘People’s Commissars’. Lenin declared a Bolshevik government and set up the Sovnarkom consisting of ‘People’s Commissars’.

The Aftermath Bolsheviks faced protests and anarchy Bolsheviks faced protests and anarchy Looting broke out in Petrograd Looting broke out in Petrograd Officials at Foreign Ministry laughed when Trotsky turned up to take charge Officials at Foreign Ministry laughed when Trotsky turned up to take charge Bolsheviks had to use armed force to get their way Bolsheviks had to use armed force to get their way

Bolshevik Authority Moscow fell to the Bolsheviks after ten days of street fighting Moscow fell to the Bolsheviks after ten days of street fighting Bolshevik authority was limited to these two cities Bolshevik authority was limited to these two cities Peasants were taking their own action in the countryside Peasants were taking their own action in the countryside Bolsheviks needed to assert their authority through a policy of terror – 7 Dec 1917, the Cheka established under Dzerzhinsky. Bolsheviks needed to assert their authority through a policy of terror – 7 Dec 1917, the Cheka established under Dzerzhinsky.

The Constituent Assembly Pressured by strikes by key workers, Lenin went ahead with the elections for the Constituent Assembly Pressured by strikes by key workers, Lenin went ahead with the elections for the Constituent Assembly Results produced a huge majority for SR’s; a defeat for Bolsheviks Results produced a huge majority for SR’s; a defeat for Bolsheviks Red Guards surrounded the first meeting of the Assembly on 5 January 1918, forcing its adjournment. It never met again. Red Guards surrounded the first meeting of the Assembly on 5 January 1918, forcing its adjournment. It never met again.

The Civil War Already opposed by many groups, the abandoning of the Constituent Assembly persuaded many more of the need to resist the Bolsheviks by force. Already opposed by many groups, the abandoning of the Constituent Assembly persuaded many more of the need to resist the Bolsheviks by force. Anti-Bolshevik forces came collectively to be known as ‘Whites’, but were a disparate group. Anti-Bolshevik forces came collectively to be known as ‘Whites’, but were a disparate group. White forces included military warlords (such as the escaped General Kornilov), Cossacks and the Czech Legion. White forces included military warlords (such as the escaped General Kornilov), Cossacks and the Czech Legion.

The Course of the Civil War Whites had several different leaders, notably Admiral Kolchak who sought complete authority. Whites had several different leaders, notably Admiral Kolchak who sought complete authority. Whites and Reds suffered various reverses, although gradually the Reds seized the initiative against the corrupt and disunited Whites. Whites and Reds suffered various reverses, although gradually the Reds seized the initiative against the corrupt and disunited Whites. Short-lived foreign involvement against the Bolsheviks failed to turn the tide. Short-lived foreign involvement against the Bolsheviks failed to turn the tide.