Lenin + The Bolshevik Takeover

• Lenin returned from his exile in Switzerland in April 1917 and he gave the famous April Theses speech when he returned.
• Lenin demanded in the April Theses that all power is given to the Soviet and that he wanted to end the war.
• Lenin wanted land for peasants and he accepted that peasants wanted to rule Russia.
• The April Theses united the Bolsheviks with Lenin and he managed to win over the Central Committee.
• Lenin believed in non-co-operation with the Provisional Government.
• Trotsky joined Lenin in July 1917 after returning from exile in May.
• Uprisings threatened to undermine Lenin's efforts in July and the July Days attracted Bolsheviks.
• The Provisional Government used troops to break up the July Days protests and several prominent Bolshevik leaders were arrested.
• Trotsky was arrested alongside many Bolsheviks in July 1917 and Lenin fled to Finland.
• Kerensky became PM in July 1917 and General Lavr Kornilov became commander-in-chief.
• Kornilov believed he could restore a strong government and prepared to bring troops from Petrograd.
• Kerensky opposed Kornilov's coup which took place from 25-30 August 1917.
• Kornilov asked the Petrograd Soviet to help defend the city during the Kornilov Affair with the Bolsheviks given weaponry.
• Railway workers halted trains carrying troops and Kerensky had Kornilov arrested.
• Support increased for the Bolsheviks following the Kornilov Affair which weakened Kerensky's position.
• Bolsheviks refused compromise with the PG and they grew at the expense of Mensheviks and SRs.
• SRs and Mensheviks urged unity in Russia and they worked with the PG.
• Bolsheviks got a majority in the Moscow and Petrograd Soviets in September 1917 with Trotsky becoming chairman of the latter.
• There were 200,000 Bolsheviks in October 1917 and 10,000 Red Guards.
• Lenin urged a seizure of power whilst in Finland but the Bolshevik Central Committee were reluctant to lead an uprising against the PG.
• A mandate from an assembly was needed for the Bolshevik Central Committee to lead an uprising.
• Lenin secretly returned to Petrograd on 7 October 1917 and Kerensky ordered that radical troops left Petrograd on the same day.
• The Petrograd Soviet and Trotsky set up the Military Revolutionary Committee on 9 October 1917.
• The Military Revolutionary Committee claimed responsibility for the defence of Petrograd.
• Lenin won a vote on an "armed uprising" on 10 October 1917 which allowed the PG to be replaced by the PS.
• 8,000 Red Guards and Kronstadt sailors seized Petrograd on 24-25 October 1917 and Kerensky fled Petrograd.
• Red Guards and civilians broke into the Winter Palace on 26 October 1917 and the remaining PG members were arrested.
• Edward Action stated the 1917 Revolution "was the product of popular revolt against oppression".