Dual authority

• The Provisional Government had authority without power
• The Soviet had power without authority
• The abdication of Tsar Nicholas II was the most significant event of the February Revolution
• New Bolsheviks differed from earlier ones because they promoted themselves as true revolutionaries who did not cooperate with the Provisional Government.
• Evidence to substantiate Figes' claims would include historical documents, testimonies, and records of the Bolsheviks' actions and statements.
• In a symbolic image of the downfall of the old regime, Russian children pose with the bronze head of a ruined statue of Tsar Alexander III (father of Nicholas II)
• Worker unrest contributed greatly to the February Revolution
• Russia entered a period of dual government with the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet
• Lenin's return in April infused a radical Marxist mindset into the Bolshevik Party
• The failed revolt of July led to the destruction of the Bolshevik leadership, organization, and offices
• General Kornilov's march on Petrograd reinvented the Bolsheviks and led to the overthrow of the Provisional Government
• Lenin's April Theses demanded the transition from the Provisional Government's democracy to a revolutionary dictatorship of workers and peasants
• Lenin, Stalin, Zinoviev, and other Bolshevik exiles returned to Petrograd with the assistance of Germany
• The Menshevik Bogdanov criticized Lenin's April Theses as "the raving of a madman!"
• Lenin openly spoke against the Provisional Government and presented a clear political program for change
• Lenin's speech at the Finland Station included slogans such as "Peace, Land, Bread!" and "All Power to the Soviets"
• Lenin's return to Petrograd was a significant turning point in the period of dual government
• The weak handling of the Kornilov Affair by the Provisional Government allowed the broken Bolshevik Party to recover and grow in popular support
• The Provisional Government had enough military support to defeat armed insurrections, so small, disciplined groups of trained workers and sailors must be used
• Trotsky formed and trained the Red Guard, a group of radical workers, to defend Petrograd against the advancing Kornilov
• Workers on the railroads refused to transport Kornilov's troops into Petrograd, resulting in Kornilov's arrest
• Large-scale public protests are not effective; surprise tactics in multiple locations at night should be used
• The Bolsheviks had to achieve a majority in the Petrograd Soviet before gaining mass popular support
• Trotsky was able to use the failure of the July protests to develop more effective strategies, which were successfully implemented in the October Revolution.
• The Provisional Government had authority without power because its members were wealthy and elected in 1912, but lacked real power
• Lenin's call for "All power to the Soviets" was seen as a call for "All power to the Bolsheviks."
• Lenin's approach was uncompromising and he believed that the Bolsheviks would achieve power alone through the soviets without cooperation from any other revolutionary party.
• The July Days were disastrous for the Bolshevik Party as they were blamed for the disturbances and Lenin's credibility as a revolutionary leader was significantly damaged.
• The Bolsheviks believed that assuming power alone was necessary as a coalition of revolutionary parties was unworkable.
• The Bolsheviks survived the July Days and Lenin resolved his differences with Trotsky, recruiting him as a new member of the party.
• Lenin criticized the Provisional Government as being made up of conservative politicians who did not represent the revolutionary aspirations of the people.
• The Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies had control over the army, railways, communications, employers, and employees.
• Policies of the Provisional Government: full amnesty of all political and religious prisoners, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to strike and assemble in unions, abolition of all class, religious and national restrictions, immediate preparations for a vote to elect a Constituent Assembly, replacement of the tsarist police with an elected people’s militia, election of local councils, military troops who fought on the side of the revolution to be given roles as permanent defenders of Petrograd.
• Soviet Order No. 1 severely limited the power of the Provisional Government, including the demand for military units to elect representatives to attend the Soviet and for military orders to be approved by the Soviet.
• The Petrograd Soviet had power without authority because it had the support of the people, but lacked official recognition
• The Provisional Government failed to win support due to weak political foundations, continued fighting in the war, economic problems, and alienating supporters
• The turning points in the rise of the Bolsheviks were Lenin's return in April and the failed revolt of July
• Maxim Gorky, a socialist leader, claimed that he welcomed the coming offensive in the hope that it may bring some organization to the country
• The Provisional Government's policy of releasing political prisoners allowed Bolshevik leaders to return to Russia
• German reinforcements nullified this success, inflicting massive casualties estimated at 200,000