1. The Russian Revolution
Background: Revolution
Repressive autocratic empire; rapid industrialization , wretched conditions of workers and peasants
revolutionary ideas embraced by working class
middle class press for constitutional reforms

2. Nicholas II - stubborn, incompetent, autocratic
1905 Revolution - a dress rehearsal for 1917

3. W W I and Revolution
Russia - challenge from Austria/Hungary; maintain Great Power status
brief patriotic support for war, followed by battlefield defeats
opportunity for centrist parties - progressive bloc formed, demanded a government responsible to the Duma

4. Duma prorogued; Nicholas takes command of the army and creates new institutions - Union of Zemstvos
war leads to scarcity of food supplies at the front and in the cities; refugees; unrest in military and among minorities

5. February Revolution 1917
Petrograd - food shortages - women demonstrate - striking workers join in demonstrations call for general strike
soldiers fire on demonstrators; but following day join revolution
by 28th February tsarist ministers are under arrest
Nicholas dissolves Duma, then abdicates; offers crown to his brother Michael, but offer rejected
Duma returns - represents propertied classes

6. intelligentsia and workers form “Petrograd Soviet of Workers, Soldiers and Deputies” - willing to support “bourgeois” stage of revolution
‘dual power’ emerges - Duma and soviets; but Petrograd soviet issues ‘Order No. 1. Provided for soviet authority over army units

7. Provisional Government established - includes Kadet party leader Miliukov and Kerensky, (SR) as Justice minister
program includes support for democracy, rights, autonomy for minorities, rule of law; new local government institutions
PG promises to recognize Poland’s independence

8. by March 25th Provisional Government forced to adopt socialist policies - state regulation of the grain supply
war undermines ‘dual power’ arrangement - soviets reject government’s war aims and support “revolutionary defencism”
coalition between soviets and government following unrest in Petrograd

9. April 1917 - Lenin returns from exile in Switzerland, with German assistance
rejection of “bourgeois” by radicals - Stalin willing to work with government and reconcile with Mensheviks

10. Lenin
Lenin’s role is to prove decisive in the unfolding of the revolution
Lenin publishes his “April Theses” - slogans call for “Peace, Bread and Land” and “All Power to the Soviets” - calls for end to ‘dual power’

11. Lenin’s vision - a complete transformation of Russia based on Marxist-Leninist principles
increased disagreements in coalition - regulation of economy, labor, land and minorities question
but war decisive - Bolsheviks present united front

14. Orlovsky challenges interpretations of the revolution which denigrate the role of the working class - Pipes/Melia - conservative view influenced by Menshevik bias
workers not simply a “backward” class manipulated by Bolshevik ideology

15. For Orlovsky collective action by workers profoundly shaped the revolution
radicalization of workers favors Bolsheviks over Mensheviks
widespread strikes show strength of opposition to the Provisional Government

16. peasants demand redistribution of land
land question divides government
socialists divided - Mensheviks Vs more radical socialists
“July Days” - abortive insurrection by soldiers and workers - Bolsheviks blamed, but popular radicalism key factor
crisis in government - war, land seizures, autonomy for Ukraine -Kadet ministers resign
Kerensky succeeds as prime minister - inept

17. Kornilov Affair - commander-in- chief
sought to end ‘dual power’ and anarchy of democracy - supported by industrialists, landowners
August - marched on Petrograd; aim to suppress the soviets; but betrayed by Kerensky
Kornilov defeated by ‘Red Guards’
Kerensky installs himself as head of a new government, a “Directory”. Kerensky’s authority undermined by Affair and assisted in Bolshevik takeover

18. October Revolution
by September widespread industrial unrest and increased levels of violence lead to breakdown of law and order
moderate left and center unable to command situation
Lenin revived slogan “ all power to the soviets” - calls on soviets to take power in the name of the working class
Lenin’s fears of German intervention or deal with Kerensky
divisions in Bolshevik ranks

19. ‘Old Bolsheviks’ Kamenev and Zinoviev supported broad-based socialist coalition taking power
majority of Central Committee support Lenin - including Stalin and Trotsky
‘Military Revolutionary Committee’ formed in Petrograd - significant for revolution

20. problems, divisions in opposition facilitated Bolshevik seizure of power
October 24/25 Kerensky government falls - Winter Palace
Bolsheviks take power in the name of the soviets