The October Revolution

1
The October Revolution

• The Bolsheviks seize power

By Mr Osbornewww.SchoolHistory.co.uk
2
Timeline

• March - Petrograd Soviet issues Order No 1
• April - Lenin returns issues April Theses
• June - Failure of the June Offensive
• July - The July Days - Lenin flees
• Aug - Kornilov Revolt
• Sept - Bolsheviks win control of the Soviet
• Oct - Trotsky become chairman of Soviet. Lenin
  returns
• Oct 24 - 26 Bolshevik revolution

3
Problems facing the Provisional Government

• Land - Peasants demand land
• Hunger - The workers in the cities were demanding
  food
• The war - fight on or make peace
• Revolutionaries - how to stop the spread of their
  influence
• The Army - needed loyalty of the army

4
Response of the Government

• The Government promised land reforms but gave no
  date
• The Government could not guarantee food supplies
  as the Soviets controlled railways
• The government promised political reform in an
  attempt to stop revolutionaries. They failed to
  take any positive action.
• The troops in Petrograd were now under the
  control of the Soviet and refused to obey the
  government

5
Results

• Peasants angry with the Government started to
  seize land
• Workers joined the Bolsheviks
• The Bolsheviks and other groups gathered support
• The Government was losing control to the
  Petrograd Soviet

6
Lenin returns
All power to the Soviets
Peace Land Bread

• Lenin return from Switzerland with German
  assistance and issues his April theses
• This called for
• Overthrow of Government
• End to war
• Soviets to form new government
• Land given to peasants
• State to control factories and banks

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Events The failure of the June Offensive led to
widespread mutinies The Bolsheviks supported but
did not lead
Results Riots quelled Bolsheviks accused of being
German agents. Bolshevik leaders arrested . Lenin
escapes to Finland Bolsheviks weakened but seen
as main revolutionary group
The July Days
8
Events Aug 1917 General Kornilov attempts a coup
Kerensky is forced to ask the Bolsheviks for
help. Bolshevik leaders are released and the Red
Guard is given weapons Bolsheviks defeat Kornilov
Results Bolsheviks seen as heroes. Popularity
increased Became a well armed force
The Kornilov Revolt
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Why were the Bolsheviks successful?
Role of Lenin Organised party Published
Pravda Avoided capture and organised the
coup. Popular slogans to raise moral and public
awareness
Role of Trotsky Joined Bolsheviks after July
Days Masterminded the events of the coup Great
military leader organised the Red Guard
Provisional Government Kerensky new of Trotsky's
plan but had lost support of the army and so was
helpless
10
The Bolsheviks take power
The Bolsheviks took control of the government in
an almost bloodless coup between Oct 24 and 26
1917.
Land Land taken from Church, Nobility etc and
given to peasants. Land not taken over by the
State (yet)
Peace Lenin ends the war sends Trotsky to
negotiate with Germany. Treaty of Brest-Litvosk
The first decrees
Factories All factories put under control of
workers committees
Press All non -Bolshevik papers were banned
Establishes the CHEKA