1. Key Debate Two: Why was the Provisional Government Overthrown
1.1. How was the Provisional Government overthrown
1.1.1. Lenins April Theses
1.1.1.1. Outlined parties aims, offering a clear radical alternative to provisional government
1.1.1.2. Clear slogans now used like 'peace, bread and land' and 'all power to the soviets'
1.1.1.3. Membership grew because of this from 26,000 in February to 250,000 in October
1.1.2. Bolsheviks kept their distance from the failures of the provisional government
1.1.2.1. All other radical parties had some form of association with the provisional government
1.1.3. July Crisis
1.1.3.1. Followed the failure of the june offensive
1.1.3.1.1. Kerensky ordered the Krondstadt sailors to the front line
1.1.3.2. Soldiers now looked to bolsheviks to end the war
1.1.4. Kornilov Affair
1.1.4.1. Portrayed the bolsheviks as the heroes
1.1.5. Worker and Soldier radicalisation
1.1.5.1. Food shortages and inflation now led soldiers and workers to vote for bolsheviks
1.1.5.2. Bolsheviks did the best in Municipal elections
1.1.5.2.1. In the All russian congress of soviets national election in June 1917 th Bolsheviks got the lowest, 105 seats
1.2. Weakness of the Provisional Government
1.2.1. Political Position
1.2.1.1. Lacked legitimacy, no mandate from the people
1.2.1.1.1. Unable to make binding desicions like the land issue
1.2.1.2. Dual authority and petrograd soviet order no 1
1.2.1.3. Added 6 socialists to the government following April crisis
1.2.2. Policies
1.2.2.1. Continuing the war
1.2.2.2. Liberalisation
1.2.2.3. Land and Inaction
1.2.3. Kerensky's Mistakes
1.2.3.1. Worsened economic situation
1.2.3.2. Arming Bolsheviks in the Kornilov affair
1.2.3.3. Arrested the bolsheviks again in June 1917
1.2.3.3.1. Giving the Bolsheviks the excuse that they were seizing power from the soviets
1.3. Strengths of the Bolshevik opposition
1.3.1. Political Manoeuvres
1.3.1.1. Politically distanced themselves from the provisional government
1.3.1.1.1. Not associated with their failures
1.3.1.2. Organised the storming of the winter palace and the revolution
1.3.2. Policies
1.3.2.1. Laid out by April Theses with the slogans of bread peace and land sympathising with the people
1.3.2.1.1. In comparison with the provisional governments policy of inaction
1.3.3. Role of Lenin and Trotsky
1.3.3.1. Lenin returned after fleeing to finland to trigger revolution in September
1.3.3.1.1. He wrote to Bolshevik colleagues stating that if they didn't act now then 'history will not forgive us'
1.3.3.2. On the 10th October Lenin held a 10 hour meeting with the central committee of Bolshevik party
1.3.3.2.1. He convinced 10 of 12 members that insurrection was now desirable
1.3.3.3. Lenins April Theses gave the party a popular image
1.3.3.4. Trotsky created the MRC
1.3.3.4.1. 150,000 members from petrograd soviet on the 12th October
1.3.4. Pressure from Workers/Soldiers
1.3.4.1. Moscow Municipal election showed an increase in support for bolsheviks to 51% in October 1917
2. Key Debate Three: How far was the first world war responsible for the downfall of the Provisional Government
2.1. Optimists: First world war was decisive
2.1.1. Continuation of the war meant new regime struggled to establish authority
2.1.1.1. If they pulled out of the war then there was a possibility the tsar would return as a constitutional monarch
2.1.2. War had popular support as peace demands would have been unconditional
2.1.2.1. Germany was in a strong position in march 1917
2.1.3. War was costly in terms of impact on land, labour and capital
2.1.3.1. They had invested so much into it already so they felt they couldnt back out
2.1.4. Policy of inaction of land and public health as war was priority
2.1.4.1. Caused resentment among workers
2.1.5. Unlucky as it was formed late in the war
2.1.5.1. Most of the damage had already been done
2.2. Pessimists: First World War was not decisive
2.2.1. Provisional government viewed as a variation of tsarist regime
2.2.1.1. Made up of progressive bloc members of fourth duma
2.2.1.1.1. Lacked political legitimacy
2.2.2. Workers actually had already campaigned for economic and social changes before the war
2.2.2.1. This led to the petrograd soviet being in a position to compel the provisional government to dual authority
2.2.2.1.1. Soviet Order No 1 allowed them to have real power
2.2.3. Kerensky's mistakes and leadership
2.2.3.1. Kornilov affair, allowing the bolsheviks to be proclaimed the heroes
2.2.3.2. June offensive/July days
2.2.3.2.1. Massive riots and uprisings as the offensive failed after 3 days
2.2.3.3. Led to him not being trusted by the workers despite his socialist background
3. Key Debate Four: Was the October Revolution a Coup D'etat or a Popular revolution
3.1. Coup D'Etat
3.1.1. Bolsheviks did not have popular support and took advantage of the decline of governmental authority
3.1.1.1. January 1918 elections the SR's won with 40% of vote
3.1.1.1.1. Bolsheviks got 24% and lenin claimed it was rigged
3.1.2. Emphasis on the actions of Lenin and Trotsky
3.1.2.1. Carefull orchestrating power
3.1.2.1.1. April Theses
3.1.2.1.2. 10 Hour committee meeting on the 10th october
3.2. Popular Revolution
3.2.1. Bolsheviks rode on a wave of popular support
3.2.1.1. Tried to justify the bolshevik seizure of power as something legitimate
3.2.2. Were very popular in urban areas, and in the military, but less amongst peasantry
3.2.2.1. Hence the Moscow Municipal elections victory
4. Key Overview of February Revolution
4.1. January 14th
4.1.1. 100,000 workers strike in Petrograd
4.2. February 18th
4.2.1. Pulitov Strikes in Petrograd
4.3. February 23rd
4.3.1. International womens day celebrations merge with pulitov
4.4. February 26th
4.4.1. Officers order troops to fire on protestors on orders of Nicholas
4.4.1.1. They refused and joined the protestors becoming petrograd mutiny
4.5. February 27th
4.5.1. Dumas Progressive Bloc formed temporary committee for restoration of order
4.5.1.1. Proclaimed themselves supreme authority in russia
4.5.1.1.1. The Petrograd soviet did the same
4.6. March 1st
4.6.1. Soldiers of Petrograd garrison agree to Soviet Order No1
4.6.1.1. Would only recognise the authority of Petrograd Soviet, not temporary committee
4.7. March 2nd
4.7.1. Nicholas Abdicates
4.7.1.1. Dual power with petrograd soviet established
4.8. Problems faced following the revolution
4.8.1. Led by Prince Lvov, a noble,
4.8.1.1. Contradicting the idea of leaving tsardom behind
4.8.2. Compiled of Various political factions
4.8.2.1. Had potentially contradicting policies
4.8.3. All are wealthy
4.8.3.1. Not representing interests of vast majority
4.8.4. No Legitimacy
4.8.4.1. Cannot call an election until after the war to claim they are legitimate
4.8.4.1.1. And when they were elected in 1912, they were so on a restricted franchise
4.8.5. Petrograd Soviet had real power with order no1
5. Provisional Governments Policies
5.1. Continuing the War
5.1.1. Peace would have resulted in loss of land
5.1.1.1. Had international obligations to Britain and France
5.1.2. Led to April Crisis (18th April)
5.1.2.1. Minister for foreign affairs demanded continuation of the war
5.1.2.2. Led to Massive protests by workers and soldiers
5.1.2.2.1. Milyukov, the minister in question was forced to resign
5.1.2.3. A new government was then formed by Kerensky on the 22nd April
5.1.2.3.1. This allowed 6 Socialistsm including tsereteli the Menshevik leader to join the cabinet
5.1.3. June/Kerensky Offensive
5.1.3.1. Kerensky ordered a mass offensive to prepare for an assault to push germans out of russia
5.1.3.1.1. Failed after 3 days and sparked the July Days
5.1.4. Radicalisation of Soldiers
5.1.4.1. Provisional government threatened to order Petrograd soviet to frontline
5.1.4.1.1. They were unwilling and refused any such suggestions
5.1.5. Soldier Desertion
5.1.5.1. 365,000 deserted between March and May compared to 195,000 between 1914-1917
5.1.5.1.1. Removed the death penalty for desertion
5.2. Liberalisation
5.2.1. Aimed to gain support from soviets and represent a new russia
5.2.1.1. Became the freest country in the world for the briefest of moments
5.2.2. Bolsheviks released, Okhrana abolished
5.2.2.1. This freedom allowed Lenin to return from Switzerland exile
5.2.2.2. Unwittingly released the very people who would topple them from power
5.3. Land
5.3.1. Minister of Agriculture (Chernov) proposed to give peasants land from private estates to solve food crisis
5.3.1.1. This was rejected due to provisional governments land policy being inaction
5.3.1.1.1. Because doing this couldve led to soldiers returning from the front line to take land
5.3.1.1.2. Also, the lawyers and nobles in the government believed in the law
5.3.2. 1600 land seizures took place in July, proving their inaction policy didnt stop the land grab
5.3.2.1. They wouldve gained support from peasants if they accepted the proposal
5.4. Economic Issues
5.4.1. All problems previously blamed on the tsar now blamed on the provisional government
5.4.1.1. Legalised trade unions and introduced an 8hr working day
5.4.2. Did nothing to tackle the 569 factories closing in petrograd
5.4.2.1. Led to 100,000 job losses and 1400% inflation in Petrograd
5.5. National Minorities
5.5.1. National minorities wanted independance, that the provisional government denied
5.5.1.1. Ukraine formed their own provisional goverment, RADA
5.5.1.2. Finland even declared independence
6. Key Debate One: Was the Provisional Government Doomed from the Start
6.1. Yes
6.1.1. Shared authority with the petrograd soviet
6.1.1.1. Disagreed over matters like involvement in the war
6.1.1.1.1. Petrograd soviet wanted peace without annexations or indemnities
6.1.2. Petrograd soviet had real power with Soviet Order No 1
6.1.3. Lacked Legitimacy
6.1.3.1. Was a temporary committee who couldnt hold elections due to the war
6.1.3.1.1. Hence was made up of old progressive bloc members who resembled the old duma
6.1.4. Members of the provisional government were not representative
6.1.4.1. Some were extremely wealthy, some were masons
6.1.4.1.1. Lvov was the procurator of the Holy Synod
6.2. No
6.2.1. Policies led to downfall
6.2.1.1. First governments 8 liberal principles
6.2.1.1.1. Included freedom of speech and allowed proliferation of groups like Bolsheviks
6.2.1.2. Peasant land issue
6.2.1.2.1. Provisional government argued that only an elected body could deal with it
6.2.1.3. Attempt to unite provisional government
6.2.1.3.1. Got rid of prince lvov and allowed 6 socialists into the cabinet
6.2.2. Popularity suggested it wasnt doomed from the start
6.2.2.1. The provisional government was popular and accepted
6.2.2.1.1. Made up of members of fourth duma, the most successful duma
6.2.3. Kornilov affair led to its downfall
6.2.3.1. Military commander who marched troops to petrograd with the intention of forcefully closing down petrograd soviet
6.2.3.1.1. Out of fear he may do the same to the provisional government Kerensky armed the bolsheviks to defend against him
6.2.3.2. The affair ended because the railway workers went on strike
6.2.3.2.1. Making it seem as though the Bolsheviks were the heroes even though they didnt end it