Provisional Gov and Bolshevik Revolution

• When was the Prov Gov set up?

  set up on 2nd March 1917. Only supposed to govern Russia until elections could take place in a Constituent Assembly. Weak position as it's authority shared with Petrograd Soviet and made mistakes.
• Weaknesses of Prov Gov - Dual Power


  had to share power which meant it had less power than a proper government, e.g. Soviet Order Number 1: soldiers and sailors would only obey orders from Prov Gov if Petrograd Soviet agreed
• Weaknesses of Prov Gov - Unelected


  Prov Gov was not elected which made it harder for people to support its decisions
• Weaknesses of Prov Gov - the War


  Prov Gov wanted to continue in the war - very unpopular with most Russians
• Weaknesses of Prov Gov - Land reform

  Prov Gov was mainly middle-class. Did not want land reform as they were landlords and their land would be taken away. Peasants wanted land and started to take it (encouraged by Bolsheviks)
• Mistakes of Prov Gov - continuing the war

  launched attacks such as June Offensive in 1917. It failed and made gov very unpopular. High number of deserters in army showed that Prov Gov was not trusted by their own armed forces.
• Mistakes of Prov Gov - Freedom of Speech


  allowed freedom of speech, showing it was a modern, democratic government. However, meant that critics could point out mistakes. e.g. Bolshevik promise of 'Peace, Bread and Land' became very popular.
• Mistakes of Prov Gov - Elections for Constituent Assembly


  supposed to organise elections for CA within 6 months however they kept delaying it due to other problems in Russia. People became frustrated.
• Mistakes of Prov Gov - Land Reform

  put off starting land reform as members thought it should be done by CA . Peasants took land anyway which caused disorder which the Prov Gov could not do much to stop. Meant that peasants did not support Prov Gov
• What was the Petrograd Soviet?

  By March 1917, it had 3,000 members. Many were revolutionaries such as Social revolutionaries and Mensheviks instead of Bolsheviks. Mensheviks thought that Prov Gov needed some time in power before it was ready for social revolution. Bolsheviks wanted workers to take control immediately however there was a minority of them in PS. impact of Soviet quite moderate in early 1917.
• The impact of the Petrograd Soviet


  did not block or try to overthrow the Prov Gov. Influenced the Prov Gov so it took into account what workers, peasants and armed forces wanted.

  Soviet Order No1: significant limitation on Prov Gov powers but it did not stop Prov Gov from launching the June Offensive

  impact was also lessened as Kerensky was a member of both - June Offensive was his idea
• Impact of June Offensive

  disaster for Russia which helped increase support for Bolsheviks. Lenin (leader) saw potential of PS to increase support for Bolshevik power and influence - basis for revolution. More more Bolsheviks to stand for election to the Soviet. Many elected. By September 1917, PS was under Bolshevik control
• How did the April Thesis start?

  Lenin's return to Russia from exile. Bolsheviks was not popular. He developed clear and radical programme for his party, published as April Thesis.
• What was in the April Thesis 1917?

  • End the War
  • No co-operation with Prov Gov
  • Industry to the Soviets
  • Nationalise all land
  • State power to the Soviets
• Results of April Thesis

  it was successful. Membership rose from 24,000 in Feb 1917 to 100,000 in April 1917. Easy to understand simple slogans like 'Peace, Bread and Land'. However it was still much smaller than the other parties.
• Why did the July Days start?

  Lenin thought that the Bolsheviks had enough support in Petrograd to overthrow Prov Gov
• Why did Lenin think that the Bolsheviks had enough support?

  • around 10,000 Red Guards who were loyal to Bolsheviks
  • propaganda had been spread widely by Bolshevik newspapers - had been given money for this by Germany
  • Prov Gov in trouble - reforms had not helped solve food shortages and June Offensive was a disaster. Around 2 million soldiers and sailors deserted the armed forces. Many soldiers were revolutionaries
• What were the July Days?

  From 3rd to 7th July there was a spontaneous demonstration in Petrograd. Banners demanding all power to Soviets - thousands of soldiers and workers. Demonstrators called on Soviets and Bolsheviks to help them. PS did not support demo. Was no leadership or organisation so it was broken up. PS believed Bolsheviks had started the July Days - did not want to increase Bolshevik popularity by supporting it.
• Crackdown on the Bolsheviks


  After July Days, PS worked with Prov Gov to try and crush Bolsheviks. Kerensky denounced Lenin of being a German spy. Troops sent to arrest Bolshevik leader. Lenin fled to Finland: 1,000 Bolsheviks arrested; others went into hiding. Appeared as though Bolshevik party was over.
• Why did the Kornilov revolt happen?

  September 1917, Kerensky was leader of Prov Gov and appointed Kornilov as commander-in-chief of the army. Kerensky wanted to bring back discipline to the army to protect Russia's borders from Germany and crack down on any unrest in revolutionary cities
• Events of the Kornilov Revolt

  1. Kornilov wanted martial law across Russia to use army to break up the Soviets

  2. 24th August, Kornilov sent troops to Petrograd, aiming to shut down PS, claimed Kerensky supported this move

  3. Kerensky dismissed Kornilov

  4. Revolutionary workers and soldiers in Petrograd rushed to defend P and Soviets, many were red guards

  5. Kerensky thought Kornilov wanted to overthrow him in a military coup

  6. Kerensky called Soviets to defend Petrograd, Petrograd Bolsheviks armed Red Guard and set B prisoners free

  7. B organised defences to stop troops, met with Kornilov's soldiers, convinced them to disobey officers and stop advance

  8. Kornilov arrested
• Impact of Kornilov Revolt


  Kerensky weakened - his gov had to rely on PS to defend the city. Army was further demoralised - ordinary soldiers now supported the Bolsheviks and Germans advanced closer to Petrograd. Bolsheviks were strengthened:

  • many of their leaders were out of prison
  • defence of Petrograd was a huge propaganda success
  • Bolsheviks had a majority in PS and Moscow Soviet
  • end of September 1917, Bolsheviks had over 400,000 members
• October 1917


  Lenin was sure the time had come for an armed takeover of the government
• Not all of the Bolsheviks agreed that Russia was ready for revolution
• Lenin returned from exile and won round the Bolshevik Central Committee


  10th October
• Kerensky tried to move Bolshevik-supporting garrison units out of Petrograd


  Garrison units responded by only responding to PS
• PS formed Military Revolutionary Committee to co-ordinate all Soviet supporting troops and armed workers to defend Soviet from an attack against Kerensky


  October 19
• Kerensky shut down B newspapers and arrested leading Bs, pushing Lenin to take action


  October 23
• October 24 night


  1. Red Guards took control over key parts of the city

  2. Winter Palace surrounded

  3. Prov Gov surrendered
• Kerensky fled


  October 25
• Lenin formed Bolshevik Gov called Council of People's Commissars


  October 26
• Reasons for success of Bolshevik takeover - role of Trotsky

  • planned the takeover - excellent organisational skills
  • very influential in Petrograd Soviet and in its MRS - important so that Soviet supporting soldiers and sailors would accept the Bolshevik takeover
  • explained that the takeover had the aim of passing power over to the Soviets - less resistance than there would have been if it had been clear that the Bolsheviks had no intention of passing power to anyone else
• Reason for success of Bolshevik takeover - role of Lenin

  • driving force behind decision to overthrow Prov Gov and take power
  • persuaded Bolshevik Central Committee to commit to revolution - important - many did not think it was the right time