An in depth look into the Russian 1917 revolution, namely the precursors to the October Revolution, and its effect with key dates and figures. Summary notes are included at the end of each important section as well as a timeline at the start of the document in order to visually summarize the key e...
CIE A Level History 9489 Paper 4 Dictators/European Option Stalin's Russia TOP IN THE WORLD ESSAY PLANS/NOTES
The 1917 Russian October Revolution
The Provisional Government (Post Feb. 1917 Revolution)
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1917 Feb – 1917 Oct.
From Duel Governing to Bolshevik Rule
The Tsarsist Regime
, From the Tsars Abdication to the October revolution
March:
War: Land:
Should Russia sue for an immediate peace, with all Should land be taken from the nobility and
the national shame, humiliation and loss of territory big landowners and handed over immediately
that this implies? If not, should Russia fight a to the peasants fro hem to divide amongst
defensive war (i.e. seek only to defend its own themselves? Or should the issue of land
existing territory), or should it continue to fight redistribution be left to an elected
alongside the Allies in the hope of winning more government of Russia to organize in a more
territory? controlled way?
National
Economy: Minorities:
How could the economic Many national groups, such
situation be improved,
particularly the supply of
KEY ISSUES IN MARCH 1917 as the Finns, Poles and
Ukrainians, were clamoring
food and fuel? for independence or more
self – government now that
the tsarist regime had
collapsed. Should the Old
Russian Empire be allowed
to break up?
Social Reform:
How quickly could a program of social reform
for the workers (e.g. greater power in the
workplace, improvements in working and
living conditions) be put into action and how
far should it go?
End of April: Position of key members
PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT PETROGRAD SOVIETS BOLSHEVIKS
WHO WERE The Kadets (Constitutional Democratic The Bolsheviks now provided a radically
THEY? Party) were the dominant Liberal force in different alternative to the PG and the
the PG but there were liberal groups who moderate socialist in the Soviet. The main
were more right wing, such as the points of the Bolsheviks were turned into
Octoberists the slogan: “Bread, Peace and Land!”
WHAT WERE - War The main socialist parties shared - A worldwide socialist revolution
THERE - Land issue the same polices as the PS: - An immediate end to the war
POLICIES? - National minorities - Co-operation - An end to co-operation with the PG
- Elections to Constituent Assembly - Defensive War - The soviet to take power
- Land issue - Land given back to the peasants
- National Minorities
WHAT WERE For the first two months of the revolution, there was little to bring the Provisional The Bolsheviks did not the PG and wanted
THEIR Government and the Soviet into conflict. The first measures taken by the them out of power ASAP. They did not
ATTITUDES Provisional Government met with Soviet and public approval and support for the believe they should represent Russia
TO EACH new government flooded in from outside the capital and harmony was maintained however thought the Soviets more fit to
OTHER? between the PG and the Soviets. be in Government
WHAT WERE They were committed to continuing the war They wanted to fight a defensive The Bolsheviks wanted to end the war
THEIR on the side of the British and French. After war only to prevent defeats by the and bring peace amongst Russia. They
ATTITUES TO the war they wanted Western help for their Germans; they did not want to fight believed that by doing this Russia will be
THE WAR? fledging democracy and to remain an to gain territory able to move forward. This appealed to
important power internationally. the soldiers!
Wanted to make territorial gains if the
Allies won
WHAT WERE They did not want to have to deal with the They wanted to leave this to the They wanted the land to be given back to
THEIR land issues but instead wanted to appoint a Constituent Assembly. They were the peasants. This appealed to the
ATTITUDES elected Constituent Assembly to deal with anxious to redistribute land as soon peasants and workers whose expectations
TO THE LAND the problem as possible but were prepared to and demands were becoming more
QUESTION? want until the Assembly met. radical and were moving ahead of the PG
and the Soviets to satisfy them
, July Days:
WHAT WAS THE JULY HOW INVOLVED WERE THE WHY DID THEY LOOK WEAKER WERE THE BOLSHEVIKS
DAYS AND ITS BOLSHEVIKS IN THE AFTER THE JULY DAYS? REALLY A HIGH DISCIPLINED
SIGNIFICANCE? UPRISING? AND ORGANIZED GROUP?
The July Days was Some historians have argued They appeared weaker not only No they were not. This lack of
several days of that the July days was an early because there was a leaking of a latter leadership in the Bolsheviks
uncontrolled rioting in attempt by the Bolsheviks to by the PG which appeared to show proved the undoing of the July
the streets. It was take power. There is little that Lenin was in the pay of the rising. Without a clear
sparked by the failure of doubt that middle-ranking Germans which showed that Lenin purpose, the rising lost
the Summer Offensive Bolshevik officials encouraged had only come back to Russia to momentum. Troops that were
against Germany. the rising. But it seems that undermine the Russian war effort, but loyal to the Soviet appeared
they were far from committed. also because several Bolsheviks and and the crowds dispersed.
For two days the Capital Trotsky were arrested; Lenin was
was defenseless. On July Lenin was actually on a short forced into hiding in Finland
third, angry civilians holiday when the uprising
marched the streets; on begun and when he returned The Soviet Newspaper even
July 4th events took a on July 4, he appealed for denounced the role of the Bolsheviks
more violent turn when restraint and the Bolshevik in the July Days and it seemed that the
20,000-armed soldiers Central Committee called off Bolshevik cause had been dealt a blow
from the naval arrived the demonstration it had that many thought they would not
in the capital. planned for early the next day recover from
The sailors marched to
the Palace where they
demanded that the
Soviets take power.
Kornilov Affair:
WHAT WAS THE HOW DID KERENSKY EFFECT ON KERESNKY HOW DID THIS HELP THE
KORNILOV AFFAIR? REACT? BOLSHEVIKS?
The Kornilov affair began when Kerensky panicked when he Kerensky’s reputation was The Bolsheviks rode back on a wave
Kerensky appointed a new realized what was happening. He damaged. His wife even wrote of popular support as the saviors of
Supreme Commander of the denounced Kornilov and called on “The prestige of Kerensky and the city, the true defenders of the
Russian forces, Kornilov. He did the Soviet for help to defend the PG was completely Revolution. They were elected in
this in an attempt to restore law Petrograd from counter-revolution. destroyed by the Kornilov huge numbers on to soviets.
and order in the cities and Soldiers were terrified that if Affair; and he was left with
discipline in the army. Kornilov was successful, old almost no supporters’ On 9 September, the Bolsheviks
methods would be restored and gained overall control of the
Kerensky entered into an they would be forced to fight at the The Menshevik and Socialist Petrograd Soviets and on 25
agreement with Kornilov that fronts. Revolutionary leaders were September, Trotsky was elected
with him, as he saw it, they People desperately needed help and even discredited by their President
could bring trustworthy troops the Bolsheviks provided this. associated with Kerensky. Their
to Petrograd. But Kornilov, who Soldiers, workers, and sailors inability to change their policies They also took control of Moscow
was becoming the middle-class prepared to defend the city. THE also condemned them in the Soviet and dominated the executive
hope for salvation, saw this as BOLSHEVIK RED GUARD (secretly eyes of the people. committees of soviets throughout
an opportunity to crush the trained militia) appeared on the urban Russia
radical socialists, prevent the streets and Kerensky was good Soldiers were infuriated with
worst excesses of revolution, enough to supply them with Kerensky thinking this was all
and restore authority in weapons. an officers’ plot, and so in
Petrograd and so he sent his In the event, Kornilov and his rebellion went a murdered
troops to the city in an attempt troops did not arrive. Railways hundreds of officers. Officers
to seize power of the workers halted the trains carrying also felt that Kerensky betrayed
government and establish them to the capital and Bolshevik Kornilov and so not prepared to
military control agents persuaded them to desert fight for him in the coming
their officers. Kornilov was confrontation with the
arrested. Bolsheviks
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