WHY WERE THE
BOLSHEVIKS ABLE
TO SEIZE POWER IN
1917
Why were
the
bolsheviks
unpopular
pre 1917?
kadets dominated
the government
but were unable to
attract mass
support
there was an
inherent
contradiction in
wanting universal
suffrage & serving
the interests of the
propertied few
Soviets dominated by
Menshevicks and Social
Revolutionaries
menshevicks had support
of proletariat and social
revolutionaries had
peasantry. Both had support
among soldiers
Bolsheviks trailed
behind all three of these
parties with a
membership of 10,000
made no progression
up to July Days
their suppression
after this episode
was the start of their
downfall
Post July days
political
strength
began to grow
became seen and known
as the one party untainted
by collaboration with the
provisional Government
growth of membership in
august pre dated Kornilov
episode
By October
membership had
grown to
300,000
Why turn to the Bolsheviks?
most members were
workers and some
soldiers (never popular
with peasants)
most people were turning to
Bolsheviks because they had
become dissatisfied with the
cosialist parties (not because
they were committed to
Bolshevism)
why? the socialist
parties had worked
with the provisional
government and
failed to deliver
fundamental issues
of peace, land and
bread
The Mensheviks
and the Social
Revolutionaries
were discredited
by their
collaboration and
the Mensheviks in
particular suffered
a dramatic
collapse
Mensheviks
had refused
against
popular
opinion to
create a
Soviet
Government
Many Marxists
went to
Bolshevism
because they
believed a long
Bourgeoise phase
had to precede
socialism
all these events left people feeling
that the party were ruthless, rigid,
centralised, disciplined and ordered
at this stage they were a flexible,
fluid organisation. Lenin's prestige
was immense
the party's propaganda didn't educate or
persuade masses, rather, they evoked a
response because they coincided with the
masses view
What did The
Bolsheviks
Party Offer?
propaganda that
coincided and
supported popular
belief
Lenin brought a
seemingly unstoppable
drive to seize power and
for the movement as well
as a programme distinct
from other parties
without Lenin it is
unlikely that the
Bolsheviks would have
gained power in
October
What ensured
the Bolsheviks
victory in
October?
Kerenskys blunders over
Kornilov and when on th 24th
October he tried to suppress
the Bolsheviks in a failed coup
is what ensured their victory
he initiated the
insurrection by forcing
the Bolsheviks to
defend themselves
Kerensky's victory over Kornilov was
also his own political defeat, he had won
all dictatorial powers but lost all real
authority
the prestige of Kerensky was completely
destroyed by the Kornilov affair and he
was left with next to none supporters
the 5 man structure (opera buffs gov.) for Kerensky's
own dictatorship was established 1st September and
served as fragile structure for Kerenskys own
dictatorship until the power question was resolved at the
democratic conference in mid-september. The structure
was makeup of unknown mediocrities.
beyond the walls of the winter palace all Kerensky's
decrees were ignored. This left a vacuum of power, but who
would fiil it?
What were the
problems of the
provisional
government?
The Tsar had been overthrown by the
events in the capital rather than in the
country as a whole.
revolution had spread to cities
but the bulk of Russia weren't
involved
SO the new political
leaders were not
known on a national
level and the authority
of the gov had not
been imposed
nationally
whole areas had
drifted out of
control when the
Tsarist regime
collapsed (shown
by peasant land
seizures)
was having a limited
effect outside the
capital: troops drifting
home by late summer,
police forces
disintegrating etc
size of Russia, its poor
communications and
education reduced the
effectiveness of the
provisional government
Russian traditions of
disintegration at time of
crisis made it hard to
assert control
the provisional
government
survived Kornilovs
coup but had not
generated much
support, its
reforms had little
impact on wider
population
clever and ruthless opponents made the
most of this crisis. Lenin offered a range of
promises which he couldn't meet nor did he
really believe in. However, due t a well
organised coup at the right time he was able
to gain control of St Petersburg and
Moscow--> and he proclaimed a new
government.