Background

While Marxism was still popular among the

workers and peasants, there was little threat of

a revolution in 1914.

The most radical leaders were outside of the

country, the Okhrana (secret police) had

infiltrated most of the groups, and the

conservative Duma appeased enough of the

population to ensure stability.

However, WW1 would tip the balance towards

revolution in Russia.

Causes

1) World War I

Initially the war led to great support for the Czar. Russians were committed to winning the war and showed great patriotism and loyalty.

By 1917 the opposite was true – defeatism and revolution were in the air. Why?

A. Defeat – the Russian offensives in 1914-1915 were crushed by the Germans and Austrians.

EX – Battle of Tannenberg – 30,000 were killed and 95,000 were captured along with Russian artillery.

Battle of Masurian Lakes in 1915 ended the Russian offensives – horrors of trench warfare begin.

The backwardness of Russia played a role. They

lacked sufficient amounts of resources like coal.

They lacked efficient railways to compensate for

the long supply lines. They had inferior weapons.

These things did not allow Russia to take

advantage of the fact they had the largest army.

B. Morale of the Troops

Trench warfare was difficult – lack of food and

horrible carnage (1.8 million killed by the end)

Many hated their officers who came from the

upper classes. Discipline was severe.

Encouraged by the Bolsheviks many desert and

return to the cities to join revolutionaries.

2) Conditions in Russia

The war effort required sacrifices on the home

front. There were bread and fuel shortages and

several strikes protesting low wages.

The Czar decided to take personal command of

the troops despite his lack of military training.

Defeats became linked with him.

Hatred towards the Czarina and her mystic

confidant Rasputin were on the rise. The corrupt

Rasputin became a political force with her support.

He was hated by almost everyone. The Czarina

was seen as a German sympathizer.

They were seen as symbolic of what was wrong

with the monarchy.

3) Revolutionary Parties

The war gave them an opportunity to gain more

support. The SRs encouraged the peasants to

rise up against the Czar and the Duma.

Lenin’s writings had influence. In his opinion the

war only served the interests of the capitalists, yet

it was the workers who suffered most.

He called for a civil war against the Czar from his

home in Austria.

4) Strike in Petrograd

Leads to the abdication of the Czar (see handout).

Filling the Power Vacuum......

Provisional Government

Became the “official” government.

Made up of liberals and moderate socialists. Had influence in rural Russia.

Issued the Eight Point Programme bringing many freedoms to Russia.

The Soviets

Claimed to represent the

will of the people,

especially the urban

working class.

Had great influence in

the cities, especially the

Petrograd Soviet.

• With the Czar out of the picture and the country in

chaos two conflicting organizations claimed power:

The Provisional Government The job of the PG was to keep the country running

and prepare for elections to a constituent assembly.

Members were largely moderate. Hoped to create

a republic. The most prominent leader was an SR

named Alexander Kerensky.

A major decision made by the PG was to continue

fighting in WW1.

This appeased the allies, however it angered the

Soviets.

The PG regrouped and launched the Brusilov

Offensive in July 1917 in a renewed attempt to

break through enemy lines.

Lenin Returns

With the grant of political amnesty, Bolshevik

leaders return from exile.

The Germans allow Lenin to return to Russia in a

sealed train car. They hope he will cause chaos.

Lenin makes a proclamation to the people of

Russia with hopes of gaining their support. It is

called the April Theses. It called for:

An immediate end to the war

Hand over all power to the Soviets (workers should

control the factories and the government)

Immediate confiscation of large estates without

compensation. Land to be shared by the peasants.

His slogan was PEACE, BREAD, LAND.

The cause of the Bolsheviks was made more

popular due to more problems in the war. The

Brusilov offensive had bogged down despite initial

successes.

The Petrograd Soviet announced Order #1.

Formation of soldier’s committees to replace officers.

Soldiers to control all weapon supplies.

Soldiers would now obey Soviets, not the PG.

Leads to a breakdown in discipline – violence

between officers and soldiers.

July Days

Three days of rioting in Petrograd threatened to

overthrow the PG.

Workers demonstrated against the lack of food and

change under the PG.

Soldiers defected. 20,000 sailors from Kronstadt

joined.

Kerensky is able to defeat the coup attempt because:

The rebels lacked a clear plan

He had enough loyal troops to defend the city.

Trotsky was arrested. Lenin went into exile in

Finland. They knew better planning was needed.

Despite this the PG was in crisis. The radical left (Bolsheviks) and the radical right (conservatives, military) were all dissatisfied.

The left wanted revolution. The right blamed the left for hurting the war effort, they wanted a government that would crack down on the Soviets. Kerensky would not.

SEE handouts:

- KORNILOV REBELLION Aug. 1917

- NOVEMBER 1917 REVOLUTION

- THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY and the TREATY OF BREST-LITOVSK