Russia, 1917–1953 – Dissent and Revolution, 1917: Developments between the…

The idea

Between February and October 1917, Russia experienced intense political volatility. Lenin’s return in April transformed Bolshevik strategy; his April Theses demanded 'All Power to the Soviets'. The July Days saw premature uprisings that weakened the Bolsheviks and forced Lenin into hiding. However, the Kornilov coup in August revived their fortunes. When Kornilov marched on Petrograd, the Provisional Government armed the Bolshevik Red Guards, exposing its own weakness. Although Trotsky was imprisoned during the coup, he was released in its aftermath and soon became Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet. Lenin then relentlessly pressured a hesitant Bolshevik Central Committee to commit to an immediate armed insurrection, setting the stage for October.

What earns the marks

• Explain how Lenin's April Theses shifted Bolshevik policy away from supporting the Provisional Government towards demanding immediate socialist revolution.
• Analyse the impact of the July Days on Bolshevik popularity and leadership, noting the temporary setback and Lenin's flight to Finland.
• Evaluate the consequences of the Kornilov coup, specifically how it discredited Kerensky, armed the Bolsheviks, and demonstrated the Provisional Government's reliance on radical left-wing forces.
• Assess Trotsky's role following the Kornilov affair, noting his imprisonment during the coup but his subsequent release and election as Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet to consolidate Bolshevik power.
• Examine Lenin's struggle to persuade the Bolshevik Central Committee, overcoming opposition from Zinoviev and Kamenev, to endorse an armed seizure of power.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Assuming the Bolsheviks orchestrated the July Days from the start.

  Put it right: In reality, it was a spontaneous uprising that the Bolshevik leadership reluctantly joined and failed to control.

• Claiming Trotsky organised the Red Guards during the Kornilov coup.

  Put it right by noting he was imprisoned at the time, though he played a pivotal role in the coup's aftermath by leading the Petrograd Soviet.

• Believing the Bolshevik Central Committee was united behind Lenin's call for revolution.

  Put it right: Figures like Zinoviev and Kamenev strongly opposed the timing of the uprising and even published their objections.

Exam tips

• When evaluating the Provisional Government's fall, contrast their handling of the Kornilov coup with the Bolsheviks' effective mobilisation of the Red Guards.
• Use the slogans 'Peace, Bread, Land' and 'All Power to the Soviets' to demonstrate how Lenin's ideology directly addressed the immediate grievances of the Russian populace.
• Highlight the shifting dynamics of power by tracing the Bolsheviks' fluctuating fortunes from the low of the July Days to the high of the post-Kornilov period.