Lenin's new society

Created by

Oliver Sullivan

Cards (41)

establishment of the PG
chairman = mikhail rodzianko
duma met in Tauride palace
in petrograd, workers + mutineers elected representatives to Petrograd Soviet.
The PG and war
2nd march 1917, formally established
continued russias involvement in war
to keep support of british and french allies
and needed support of russian generals
The PG and Soviets
dual control was formed, power was shared. soviets looked to petrograd soviet for leadership.
PG controlled lots of important national services
railway system + postal service controlled by workers (soviets)
3. PS had own newspaper + food supplies
Alexander kerensky
'central executive committee' setup to represent views of soviets + workers
first minister of justice for PG
minister of war in may 1917, was member of PS
june 1917 offensive failed, kerensky chose to replace prince Lvov as minister chairman of PG
Military Problems
Order number 1
issued by soldiers of petrograd garrison
all orders of PG needed approval of PS ( 1 march 1917)
undermined authority of PG during dual control
discipline in army
controlled by councils of officers
orders of duma (PG) could only be carried out if didn't clash with orders of soviet deputies
PS had more power over military
social problems
Government + old regime
Problem: PG seemed similar to 1912 Duma under the Tsar
PG was not representative, elective, unlike soviets
PG were going to hold election but war turmoil in 1917 made this impossible.
the peasantry
PG failed to satisfy peasants
most peasants just wanted to be left alone
many supported socialist revolutionaries
the redistribution of land
many peasants wanted land
PG wanted to wait for election before making big changed
bolsheviks promised land in October revolution for more support
Economic Problems
industry
basic materials for industry couldn't reach russia because of war
worsened through 1917, army unable to fight well, lack of weapons
Economic Problems
industry
basic materials for industry couldn't reach russia because of war
worsened through 1917, army unable to fight well, lack of weapons
inflation
value of rouble fell
higher prices for food and other goods
transport
railway system unable to supply resources to cities effectively
all full taking troops + supplies to front line
farming
peasants forced to join military
weaker agricultural production
increased prices because of shortages
Hooligan movement
bread riots
petrograd feb 1917, crowds broke into bakeries looking for bread
soldiers joined strikes
Lenin's return 
Lenin was in exile in Switzerland, played no part in February Revolution, but Germany allowed him to travel through Germany to cause unrest in Russia. He arrived in Russia on 3rd April 1917.
Most of the population in Russia were peasants and not workers
Bolshevik membership 
Grew from 23,000 to 75,000 by April 1917
The 'April Theses' 
1. Lenin demanded abandonment of Provisional Government for radical turn to Soviets as leaders
2. Russia pull out of war
3. More land to be given to peasants
4. End social hierarchy
At the All-Russian Congress of Soviets in June 1917, the Bolsheviks were not the most popular party
Representation at the All-Russian Congress of Soviets in June 1917 
Bolsheviks, 105 reps
Social Revolutionaries, 285 reps
Mensheviks, 284 reps
Lenin claimed the Bolsheviks were ready to overthrow the Provisional Government, but most saw this as far-fetched
Leon trotsky
treaty of brest-litovsk
responsible for russian affairs
negotiated russias way out of war
Red Army
main role in revolution + civil war was commissar for war
responsible for red army
'permanent revolution'
trotsky believed bolsheviks should use instability around world to spark rveolutions
stalin oposed this
he believed in 'socialism in one country'
(securing bolshevik rule in russia first)
leon trotsky
petrograd soviet
chaired PS through to october revolution
gave great deal of power between bolsheviks and PG
Leon Trotskys return
had been in usa
returned may 1917 after february revolution
Kornilov revolt 
An attempted coup d'état in Russia in August 1917 led by General Kornilov
General Kornilov 
The leader of the attempted coup d'état in Russia in August 1917
Kerensky made Kornilov commander-in-chief
To restore discipline
Kerensky gave weapons to workers in Petrograd 
To defend against coup
what did the workers do to kerensky?
They turned against him
The Kornilov coup failed
In August 1917, Kornilov ordered Petrograd garrison 
To clamp down on protests
Soldiers stopped following orders 
Workers went on strike
The Kornilov coup weakened the Provisional Government 
People thought that Kerensky supported and helped Kornilov
Support for the Bolsheviks increased 
They were the best representative for workers' wishes
Red Guards 
Workers formed units to defend against Kornilov, containing many Bolsheviks who were now armed to revolt against the Provisional Government
the july days
the red guards
supportive of bolsheviks
germany aided bolsheviks to cause unrest
by june 1917, 41 different bolshevik newspapers in circulation
as war worsened, bolsheviks grew in popularity
the july days
soldiers refused to fight in war
workers and sailors from kronstadt naval base
marched to tauride palace and demanded take over by petrograd soviet
not organised by soviets
soviet reaction
took soviets by surprise
they were blamed for it
lenin charged as spy and exiled to finland
trotsky and kamenev arrested
bolshevik party weakened
october revolution
rise of bolsheviks
increased popularity after kornilov revolt
with german army advancing, there was less confidence in kerensky's ability to defend petrograd
by 31st august the bolsheviks had the majority of the delegates in the petrograd soviet
and moscow soviet by 5th september
'state and revolution'
while exiled in finland, lening wrote ' state and revolution'
outlined how successful revolution would work
lenin's return
10th october
12 senior bolsheviks met, lenin convinced the majority that action was needed
bolshevik seizure of power october 1917
military revolutionary committee (MRC)
trotsky elected to chair PS
MRC controlled soldiers in petrograd and defended against germans
Trotsky + Lenin
lenin returned 24th october, revolution had already began
trotsky led operation on ground
lenin was crucial in seizing power
Storming of winter palace 25th October
red guards + kronstadt sailors stormed winter palace
where PG resided
kerensky only had a small amount of kadets for protection
aftermath
many Pg members arrested
kerensky escaped + fled
bolsheviks claimed to congress that they were in power
end of WW1
bolsheviks set alot of decrees after coming into power
the decree on peace, november 1917
passed by all-russian congress
all countries in war to begin peace talks
they didn't want reparation fines
popular amongst workers
the decree on land, November 1917
8th november, land taken from landowners to give to peasants
land owned by church was taken + controlled by state
decrees on workers' rights, november/december 1917
8 hour working day, 48 hour working week
insurance for unemployed/ ill / injured
workers' committees authority to run factories
decree on nationalities, november 1917
national minorities able to use own language whilst under control of petrograd
outcome of decrees
soviets supported
'dawn of new russia'
titles banned, replaced with 'comrade'
unifying force, increased popularity
treaty of brest litovsk
background
trotsky wanted to end fighting but not surrender
capital moved to moscow as germans were getting closer to petrograd
the treaty
march 1918, made peace with germany
lost:
finland, estonia, latvia, lithuania, ukraine, georgia + parts of poland
-26% of population, over a quarter of farmlands + railroads
-74% iron and coal supplies
300 million roubles in reparation fines
why did the bolsheviks agree to the treaty of brest-litovsk?
they needed a quick end
had to focus on setting up government + on lots of internal opposition
they also believed reparations wouldn't last long