Provisional Government to September 1917 (EXAM STUDY)

By Dan.Strack

  • Petrograd Soviet of Workers and Soldiers Deputies established

    600 workers and soldiers met in the Tauride Palace, creating the Soviet. The first chairman was Nikolay Chkheidze.
    Held great influence, controlled railways, post, and telegraphs. Order No. 1 was also highly significant.
    Decisions in the government could not be made without their permission.

  • Provisional Government takes control

    Formed from members of the Fourth Duma. This provisional government lacked real power as its decisions could only be carried out if the Soviet allowed for it. Led by Prince Georg Lvov.

  • Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich renounces the throne

    The brought an end to the Tsarist regime as Nicholas was forced to abdicate.

  • Lenin returns to Russia

    Immediately demanded that Bolsheviks cease to support the Provisional Government. "All power to the Soviets"
    Lenin's other catchcry was "Peace, land and bread"

  • Lenin publishes the April Theses

    Key points included:
    -The war must be immediately ended due to its imperialist nature.
    - The Bolsheviks must stop supporting the Provisional Government as the bourgeoise phase of the revolution had 'passed'.
    - The Soviet was the only acceptable form of government
    - Confiscation of land and fair redistribution to the proletariat
    - Abolition of current police, army and bureaucracy.\
    Slogans such as "Bread, land, peace" and "All power to the Soviet" were key ideas

  • Trotsky joins the Bolsheviks

    Initially supporting the Mencheviks
  • Period: to

    July Days

    Began after a speech by Trotsky encouraged people onto the streets to protest. Protesters were joined by workers,soldier and sailors. Up to half a million protesters were involved. Not organised and thus easily suppressed.
    Hundreds of Bolsheviks were arrested, leaders charged with treason. Trotsky and Kamenev await arrest and imprisonment. Lenin fled to Finland
    Kerensky accused the Bolsheviks of being financed by the Germans.

  • Kerensky become Prime Minister

  • Kornilov becomes Commander-in-Chief of the Russian army

    He replaced Brusilov
  • Period: to

    Kornilov Affair

    There was a significant lack of understanding between Kornilov and Kerensky which lead to them being suspicious that one would commit a coup. When Kornilov was sacked by Kerensky in late August, Kornilov believed the Bolsheviks had already carried out a coup and he immediately ordered his troops to march on Petrograd.
    Kerensky turned to the Bolsheviks, who organised the Red Guard, railway workers refused to transport Kornilovs troops. The coup failed and the Red Guard remained armed.

  • Bolsheviks hold overall majority in the Moscow Soviet

    Support for the Bolsheviks is at an all time high after the Kornilov Affair

  • Kornilov and other and other army officers imprisoned

    This came as a result of the failed 'Kornilov Affair'