Russia essay 5

1. Russia essay 5 Reasons for Bolshevik success

2. Reasons 2: They were popular! • Lenin returned to Russia announcing the April Theses, with slogans such as “Peace, Land and Bread” and “All Power to the Soviets” which were persuasive • Lenin talked of further revolution to overthrow the Provisional Government and his slogans identified the key weaknesses of the Provisional Government • The Bolsheviks kept attending the Petrograd Soviet when most of the others stopped doing so and this gave them control of the Soviet, which they could then use against the Provisional Government • The Bolsheviks did not return their weapons to the Provisional Government after they defeated Kornilov • Bolsheviks were able to act as protectors of Petrograd.

3. Reason 3: The role of the Petrograd Soviet • The old Petrograd Soviet re emerged and ran Petrograd • The Petrograd Soviet undermined the authority of Provisional Government especially when relations between the two worsened • Order No.1 of the Petrograd Soviet weakened the authority of the Provisional Government as soldiers were not to obey orders of Provisional Government that contradicted those of the Petrograd Soviet.

4. Soviet Order Number 1 • 1. Committees to be elected immediately from the ranks of all military and naval units2. One delegate from each company to be elected to the Petrograd Soviet3. Armed forces are subordinate to the Petrograd Soviet in all their political actions4. Orders of Military Commission of the Duma are to be carried out only if they do not conflict with the orders of the Petrograd Soviet5. All weapons to remain under the control of company and battalion committees, and in no circumstances to be handed over to officers6. While on duty soldiers must observe strict military discipline, but off-duty soldiers enjoy the same rights as other citizens; saluting off-duty is abolished7. Honorific titles of officers are abolished (Your Excellency)8. All coarse conduct by officers towards soldiers (use of the familiar ty) is abolished, and cases of it must be reported to the committee.

5. Article- KNOW THIS!!! • Soviet Order Number 1

6. Reason 4: Economic Problems • The workers were restless as they were starving due to food shortages caused by the war • The shortage of fuel caused lack of heating for the workers in their living conditions • The shortage of food and supplies made the workers unhappy and restless • The Bolsheviks’ slogans appealed to them such as the workers control of industry.

7. Reason 5: The Land Issue • All over Russia peasants were seizing nobles land and wanted the Provisional Government to legitimise this • The failure of the Provisional Government to recognise the peasants’ claims eroded the confidence in the Provisional Government • Food shortages caused discontent, and they were caught up by revolutionary slogans such as “Peace, Land And Bread”.

8. Reason 6: The July Days • The Bolsheviks staged an attempt to seize power, rising in support of the Kronstadt sailors who were in revolt • The revolt was easily crushed by the Provisional Government but showed increasing opposition to the PG, especially from the forces • The revolt also showed that the PG was still reasonably strong and able to crush opposition such as the Bolsheviks who now appeared to be weakened.