Between the Revolutions Between the Revolutions March to October 1917March to October 1917

The Provisional Government, The Provisional Government, the Petrograd Soviet, the the Petrograd Soviet, the return of Lenin and the return of Lenin and the

Kornilov Affair.Kornilov Affair.

The Provisional The Provisional GovernmentGovernment

Shared Dual Authority Shared Dual Authority with the Petrograd with the Petrograd Soviet.Soviet.

Led by Prince Lvov – Led by Prince Lvov – many members of old many members of old duma formed part of duma formed part of the Government.the Government.

Not elected – Not elected – Milyukov, a member Milyukov, a member said that the said that the Revolution had Revolution had ‘appointed them’!‘appointed them’!

As they weren’t As they weren’t elected by the people elected by the people they lacked legitimate they lacked legitimate authority and failed to authority and failed to win the loyalty of the win the loyalty of the Russian people.Russian people.

Kerensky was a Kerensky was a member of both the member of both the Provisional Provisional Government and the Government and the Petrograd Soviet.Petrograd Soviet.

Petrograd Petrograd SovietSoviet

A soviet is a workers A soviet is a workers council – previous council – previous soviets had been set soviets had been set up during the 1905 up during the 1905 Revolution.Revolution.

The Soviet saw itself The Soviet saw itself initially as a watchdog initially as a watchdog for the workers.for the workers.

Soviets spread Soviets spread throughout Russia.throughout Russia.

Enjoyed more Enjoyed more credibility, popularity credibility, popularity and power than the and power than the Provisional Provisional Government.Government.

Was able to restrain Was able to restrain the government – for the government – for example had ultimate example had ultimate control over the control over the Armed forces with Armed forces with ‘Soviet Order Number ‘Soviet Order Number 1’.1’.

Working together ?Working together ? The Dual Authority The Dual Authority

Initially the 2 bodies cooperated well Initially the 2 bodies cooperated well and useful and effective changes were and useful and effective changes were introduced including:introduced including:

recognition of Trade Unionsrecognition of Trade Unions8 hour day for industrial workers8 hour day for industrial workersfull civil and religious freedomsfull civil and religious freedomscommitment to a constituent commitment to a constituent

assemblyassembly

However…….However…….

As the year progressed the increasingly As the year progressed the increasingly contrasting political makeup of the 2 bodies contrasting political makeup of the 2 bodies began to lead to disagreements. The began to lead to disagreements. The Provisional Government moved further to Provisional Government moved further to the right politically and the Soviet moved to the right politically and the Soviet moved to the left. This made cooperation much more the left. This made cooperation much more difficult and tension between the 2 difficult and tension between the 2 increased. The main issues of disagreement increased. The main issues of disagreement were Russia’s involvement in the world war were Russia’s involvement in the world war and the land question.and the land question.

Lenin returns!!Lenin returns!! Lenin’s return was Lenin’s return was

aided by the Germans aided by the Germans (who hoped to knock (who hoped to knock Russia out of the Russia out of the world war by world war by destabilising her destabilising her further). He traveled further). He traveled across occupied across occupied Europe in a sealed Europe in a sealed train.train.

Lenin arrived in Russia Lenin arrived in Russia and immediately and immediately condemned the condemned the February Revolution February Revolution and spoke of his and spoke of his desire to overthrow desire to overthrow the Provisional the Provisional Government – calling Government – calling it a ‘parliamentary-it a ‘parliamentary-bourgeois republic’bourgeois republic’

The April ThesesThe April Theses

On the 4On the 4thth of April Lenin issued his ‘April of April Lenin issued his ‘April Theses’. The ‘Theses’ set out Bolshevik Theses’. The ‘Theses’ set out Bolshevik policy and expressed Bolshevik support for policy and expressed Bolshevik support for the Soviets (he certainly recognised their the Soviets (he certainly recognised their importance as an established powerbase). importance as an established powerbase). Lenin stated that the February Revolution Lenin stated that the February Revolution was only the first stage of the Revolution. was only the first stage of the Revolution. He refused to compromise on his belief in He refused to compromise on his belief in the power of the worker. the power of the worker.

Began to use slogans – ‘Peace, Bread and Began to use slogans – ‘Peace, Bread and Land’ and ‘All power to the Soviets’.Land’ and ‘All power to the Soviets’.

Problems for the Problems for the Provisional Provisional GovernmentGovernment

The Provisional The Provisional Government wanted to Government wanted to continue with World continue with World War 1 – this was War 1 – this was unpopular with many unpopular with many people and provided people and provided the Bolsheviks with the Bolsheviks with increased support. increased support.

Strikes occurred to Strikes occurred to protest against the war.protest against the war.

Kerensky tried to persuade Kerensky tried to persuade the Russian people to the Russian people to support the war by saying support the war by saying that it would help to save that it would help to save the Revolution, however the Revolution, however public opinion was firmly public opinion was firmly opposed by that time.opposed by that time.

Sailors and workers at the Sailors and workers at the Kronstadt naval base set Kronstadt naval base set up their own government up their own government in defiance of the in defiance of the Provisional Government – Provisional Government – this gave other this gave other revolutionaries hope.revolutionaries hope.

The July Day – almost a The July Day – almost a disaster for the Bolsheviks!!disaster for the Bolsheviks!!

Unrest was increasing throughout Unrest was increasing throughout Russia – this discontent was focused on Russia – this discontent was focused on the Provisional Government.the Provisional Government.

The July Days Rising (3-6 July):The July Days Rising (3-6 July):- widespread demonstrations- widespread demonstrations- confused and disorderly- confused and disorderly- supported by the Bolsheviks (?)- supported by the Bolsheviks (?)- easily crushed by Government - easily crushed by Government

troopstroops

July Days continued…..July Days continued…..

Even though the Bolsheviks didn’t Even though the Bolsheviks didn’t claim responsibility for the July Days claim responsibility for the July Days fiasco, the Provisional Government fiasco, the Provisional Government saw it as a Bolshevik challenge to its saw it as a Bolshevik challenge to its authority and had many Bolsheviks authority and had many Bolsheviks arrested. Lenin fled Petrograd. The arrested. Lenin fled Petrograd. The failure of the July Days severely hurt failure of the July Days severely hurt the reputation of the Bolshevik party the reputation of the Bolshevik party as a serious revolutionary prospect.as a serious revolutionary prospect.

The Land QuestionThe Land Question Land shortages were a Land shortages were a

huge problem in 1917.huge problem in 1917. Peasants had believed that Peasants had believed that

the February Revolution the February Revolution would bring them land – it would bring them land – it hadn’t! Discontent grew hadn’t! Discontent grew and peasants began to and peasants began to seize land.seize land.

The Provisional The Provisional Government and the Soviet Government and the Soviet did not have a solution to did not have a solution to the land question – but the land question – but Lenin spotted the political Lenin spotted the political advantage in the situation advantage in the situation and adopted a land policy and adopted a land policy (stolen from the SRs) (stolen from the SRs) promising ‘Land to the promising ‘Land to the peasants’. This brought peasants’. This brought renewed support for the renewed support for the Bolsheviks.Bolsheviks.

The Kornilov The Kornilov Affair– a right-Affair– a right-

wing coup? wing coup?

Kornilov was an army officer who hated Kornilov was an army officer who hated Lenin and the Soviets and had not fully Lenin and the Soviets and had not fully accepted the February Revolution.accepted the February Revolution.

Kornilov made the decision to move Kornilov made the decision to move troops to Petrograd to protect it troops to Petrograd to protect it against advancing German soldiers and against advancing German soldiers and growing unrest in the city itself.growing unrest in the city itself.

Continued….Continued…. Kerensky publicly condemned Kornilov’s Kerensky publicly condemned Kornilov’s

action saying that he was bringing the action saying that he was bringing the troops to overthrow the government.troops to overthrow the government.

Kerensky asked the people of Petrograd to Kerensky asked the people of Petrograd to fight against Kornilov – he gave weapons fight against Kornilov – he gave weapons to ‘loyal’ people and released many to ‘loyal’ people and released many Bolsheviks from prison so they could fight.Bolsheviks from prison so they could fight.

No fighting occurred in the end because No fighting occurred in the end because Kornilov’s train was stopped on its way to Kornilov’s train was stopped on its way to Petrograd and he was arrested.Petrograd and he was arrested.

Bolsheviks claimed that they had ‘saved’ Bolsheviks claimed that they had ‘saved’ the revolution and that the Provisional the revolution and that the Provisional Government and been shown to be Government and been shown to be vulnerable.vulnerable.

The Bolsheviks were now in a The Bolsheviks were now in a powerful and popular position. powerful and popular position. The Provisional Government The Provisional Government had been weakened and the had been weakened and the

time was ripe for a change!!!!!time was ripe for a change!!!!!