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Marxism and Russian Politics
Liberals:
Mainly left-leaning intellectuals with the middle class as their support base. They assumed control after the Tsar had abdicated, establishing a provisional government to draw up a constitution and organize elections, but they faced several challenges: Russia was still at war with Germany, the peasants wanted land and had begun to seize it. The Soviet, dominated by Socialist-Revolutionaries and social democrats held real power through Soviet Order No. 1. -
Marxism and Russian Politics cont.
Socialist-Revolutionaries:
Had the largest following and were the biggest group in the Soviet after the February Revolution. Supported by the peasants, intelligentsia developed the theoretical base.
Primary Aims of the Socialist-Revolutionaries:
The overthrow of the Tsar
Land ownership for the peasants. Left faction called for a socialist state based on a peasants' commune. Socialist-Revolutionaries did not believe in the overthrow of the bourgeoise by a proletariate class. -
Marxism and Russian Politics cont.
Social Democrats:
Supported by the industrial working class. Industrial revolutions in the 1890s had created an industrial working class that placed Russia in a perfect position for revolution. They focused on the revolution of this class, not peasants. Supported class warfare of the proletariat over-throwing the bourgeoisie to bring about socialism. Tensions saw the SD Party split. Lenin and his supporters became the Bolsheviks, Marxists who saw change evolving over time became Mensheviks. -
Dual Government Feb 1917 - Oct 1917
Provisional Government:
A temporary gov formed by members of the old Duma. Political prisoners freed. Freedom of the press, speech to strike. End of discrimination and the death penalty.
The Soviet: Workers and soldier deputies.
The soviet had power without authority, the Provisional Government had authority without power.
Soviet Order No. 1
Soldier's committees to be forme
Soviet decisions supreme over provisional gov
No ranks/titles
Arms in hands of soldiers committees. -
April Theses
A turning point - The Provisional Government, already governing with 'authority but no power', was now under threat from the Left as the Bolshevik message spread. They were a series of ten directives issued by the Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin upon his return to Petrograd from his exile in Switzerland via Germany and Finland. The Theses were mostly aimed at fellow Bolsheviks in Russia and returning to Russia from exile. Mostly condemned the Provisional Government. -
July Days
A turning point
Half a million protesters on the streets - disorganized and undisciplined protests. Easily defeated by the Provisional Government's armed troops.
Bolsheviks blamed for the failed uprising - Lenin fled to Finland.
Kerensky became Prime Minister.
Soldiers, sailors, and industrial workers engaged in spontaneous armed demonstrations against the Russian Provisional Government -
Kornilov's attempted coup
A turning point - the Provisional Government now faced threats from the Right.
In August, Kornilov, commander in chief of the army, appeared about to march on Petrograd.
Kerensky called on Red Guard - 40 000 of Red Guard armed.
Railroad workers refused to transport Kornilov's troops and Kornilov allowed himself to be arrested. The Bolsheviks now armed, began to win more support and the Petrograd and Moscow soviets grew. -
Bolshevik rule
Sovnarkom passed 116 decrees in its first months of power.
Peace:
Lenin knew that the ultimate reason for Kerensky's failure was the decision to continue the war. Lenin sought an immediate end to the war with Germany for two main reasons: The war was imperialist and so his regime should have nothing to do with it; secondly, consolidation of Bolshevik power had no chance if Russia kept fighting. -
Decrees passed within the first months
Land:
Lenin was no supporter of private land ownership but he knew that to hold on to power he had to satisfy the peasants' yearning for land. The Land Decree gave the peasants the right to seize the land with no compensation required.
State Capitalism:
The purpose of state capitalism was to ease the transition to full socialism. Lenin decided to allow the economy to maintain some of the elements of a capitalist system, such as the use of money and small-scale trade.