The October Revolution

Lenin, the Bolshevik’s and the end of the Provisional Government

So far… So Russia1. Russia – an introduction2. The Crimean War3. Alexander II – Reform4. Opponents of Alex II and Alex III5. Alexander III & Industrialisation6. Russo-Japanese war 19057. Revolution of 19058. Nicholas II, Stolypin and Russia on the eve of war9. World War 110. Revolutions of 191711. The Russian Civil War / Lenin12. Rise of Stalin13. Five Year Plans, Collectivisation and the Great Terror14. World War Two15. Last Years of Stalin

QuestionTo what extent did war provide a catalyst for change in Russia between 1853-1953?

Spot the difference.

Why two revolutions?• From previous lessons you should know about the

July Days, the Kerensky Offensive and the Kornilov Affair.

• You should also be aware of Bolshevik activities in the months prior to October 1917.

• Each event showed the new Provisional Government to be weak and generally unstable.

• It is clear with hindsight that February 1917 was only the start of the revolutionary process as the PG could not fill the power vacuum.

• The continuation of the war sapped the initial optimism that surrounded the PG.

Your task - Countdown to Revolution

• Read Lynch p.92-96 and construct a timeline of events explaining how the Bolsheviks seized power. Use these dates to help you:

• Mid-September• 12 September• 7 October• 10 October • 23 October• 25-27 October• 27 Oct

Also include the July Days and the Kornilov Affair.

Countdown to Revolution

• Mid-SeptemberBolsheviks gained majority in Petrograd & Moscow Soviets

• 12 SeptemberTime was ripe for revolution: ‘History will not forgive us if we do not assume power’

• 7 OctoberLenin returned to Petrograd in secret

• 10 October Central Committee pledged support for armed insurrection (uprising)

• 23 OctoberBolshevik Papers Pravda & Izvestiya closed down

• 25-27 OctoberSupport for PG collapses and members of government flee abroad. Bolsheviks and Kronstadt sailors seize the Winter Palace.

• 27 OctLenin notifies Congress of Soviets that Petrograd Soviet (controlled by Bolsheviks) had seized power & set up new revolutionary government, ‘Sovnakom’

This picture showing the storming of the Winter Palace was staged in 1920.

Why would the Bolsheviks do this?

Homework Task

• Read Lynch p.96-99 and list the reasons why the Bolshevik Revolution of October 1917 was successful.

• Highlight different causes of change.

• Social, economic, political, individual, inevitable?

Reasons for Bolshevik success• Other parties co-operated with PG, e.g. promise of elections

to Constituent Assembly allayed Liberals • Bolshevik opposition to War, compared with SRs &

Mensheviks• Menshevik adherence to Marxism – Feb Rev was a prelude to

proletariat revolution• Bolshevik aims & methods clearer than opponents• Weaknesses of PG – interim govt, lacked legitimacy• Failure of PG to suppress Bolsheviks, e.g. ignored the Smolny

Institute• Lenin’s charisma• Growth in membership of Bolsheviks & dominance of Soviets• Factory committees• Radicalisation of Russian politics

How does this poster portray the revolution?

Who do you think would have produced it?

Traditional Soviet view (1918-1980s)

• February Revolution only a step on the revolutionary process towards Russia becoming a socialist state

The February bourgeoisie-democratic revolution did not bring the working masses of Russia either liberation from the domination of their exploiters, or Russia’s withdrawal from the imperialist war. The struggle over the issue of war and peace graphically demonstrated the anti-popular essence of the Provisional Government.Kukushkin, History of the USSR: An Outline of the Socialist Construction

• The second revolution was inevitable but the Bolsheviks did play an important role in influencing events.

• A rising of workers and peasants guided by the Bolsheviks under Lenin• Bolsheviks outmanoeuvred other groups.• Importance of Trotsky played down.

Liberal view• Was a coup carried out by a small group.• Was successful only because the PG had lost all authority• No organisation had the power or the will to stop the

Bolsheviks• Revolution was bloodless.• Opposition finally woke up post-revolution and caused the

Russian Civil War.• Some Liberals claim that the Bolsheviks high jacked the

struggle of the working classes to remove Tsarism and replace it with another authoritarian regime.

• Some also argue that the Bolsheviks were not as organised as Soviet historians made out – party made up various factions. Lenin had difficulty imposing arguments of April Thesis.

Post-communist era Russian view

• Continue to recognise significance of Lenin• Agree with Western liberal view that it was

carried out by a small but well organised group.

Which historical view supports this painting?

October Rev: Coup or not a coup?

EVIDENCE FOR A COUP• Few people took part in an essentially bloodless struggle• Power seized by organised party not the working classes• Seizure of power remarkably smooth – government collapsed without a fight

EVIDENCE AGAINST• During previous nine months of 1917, Bolsheviks gained much support

amongst workers

In reality, the insurrection is only part of the revolution.. Nine-tenths of the tasks were already accomplished before-hand, by winning over the decisive majority of workers and soldiers.Woods, Bolshevism: The Road to Revolution

• Bolsheviks were small but represented much larger numbers – Lenin's argument

J. Laver, Modernisation of Russia, 1856-1985

• The truth lies somewhere between all these interpretations• Feb Rev more spontaneous than Oct Rev• PG probably fatally weakened before Oct 1917• Bolshevik victory was not inevitable, whatever support

they had on the ground.• At a time of national crisis, an extremist group was always

going to have an advantage over moderates.• Storming of Winter Palace was of great symbolic and

propaganda importance, but only that. Arguably did not cause great political and social change immediately.

• Struggle for Russia still to come…