The Rise of Lenin
What we will see by the end of 1917, due to a lot of the events and growing social
sentiment I will cover in this lecture, is the rise of one of the most radical governments in
history. Over the course of 8 months Russia went from one of the most conservative to
most liberal nations in the world. What we will also see is Lenin as a major catalyst for
the October seizing of power, with Trotsky along side as a military strategist for the
revolution and the ensuing civil war.
Liberals form the Provisional Government after the Tsar abdicated the throne in 1917.
They then issue proclamation 3/1/17. They declare that they want rights for the people
and to expand citizenship.
Workers are also simultaneously being mobilized by the Petrograd Soviet very quickly.
The Petrograd Soviet’s main leadership was comprised of members of the major socialist
parties: The Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, and Socialist-Revolutionaries (SR’s). The
Provisional Government was heavily run by liberal groups, such as the KD’s, and liberal
members of the propertied class.
They form a council to represent the workers’ and soldiers’ interests and issue Order No.
1.
Despite their participation in the revolution, many soldiers and workers are concerned
about the new government. They are primarily concerned that the new government might
move against their interests and work in favor of the government’s own only.
Order No. 1 basically says that if the Petrograd Soviet has a problem with an order
related to the soldiers that the Provisional Government issues, then the Petrograd Soviets
can override it. This creates a political system known as “Dual Power.”
First 50 to 100 days after the revolution is like a honeymoon period.
Then: The April Crisis.
Foreign Minister Miliukov’s note to Allies (as in the WWI), 4/19/17
He promised to keep all former wartime deals of the Tsarist government. Russia would
still get the territories promised them, such as straights near Constantinople.
Most of the population is willing to sacrifice to protect Russia, but not for imperialism.
This note is interpreted as Russia saying it would continue to fight for imperialistic
motives, which caused a lot of protest. Soldiers/families/Petrograd soviets are angry that
the new government seems to be maintaining war plans of old regime.
This is the first of a string of events that causes problems for the Provisional Government.
Dual Power proves to be a major obstacle for all those involved in the months following
the revolution
The Provisional Government is dominated by liberals, usually wealthy landowners. Many
doubt (and rightfully so) whether it they have a real connection with the lower classes.
The Petrograd Soviet, as mentioned earlier, is dominated by factory workers and radical
socialists. The leadership of the socialist parties dominates the leadership of the Petrograd
Soviet for the most part.
Many major Bolshevik leader have not returned after fleeing the country earlier. These
leaders were more radical and hard-line Marxist, which becomes important very soon.
The current leadership of the Petrograd Soviet were content with workers not going
“fully Marxist” yet and were going to work to it mores slowly then their Bolshevik
counterparts would have liked.
Both groups wanted socialism and believed in the dream of a “Communist Utopia,” but
they differed on how long it should take as well as the form this new society would take.
Some wanted an agrarian utopia of sorts. They wanted to use the peasant commune
method and spread it from dozens to hundreds of households per a commune.
They wanted to spread out land communally and create a rudimentary social welfare
system as well. More land for more consumers (“eaters”) and a kind of welfare system
for people who are older, have no children, are unable to work, etc.
Basically, some entertained this idea that Russia could avoid become a huge industrial
country and succeed as an agrarian one instead.
March of 1917
Leftists (Provisional Government) has all the formal power/responsibilities but little
support compared to Petrograd Soviet, which has all the support but no formal power.
The Provisional Government decides to actively bring in socialists; however, they keep
their numbers in a minority so as to keep them from taking control. Socialists are ok with
this because they don’t want the government to collapse and they don’t want to take
control at this time because the situation is too volatile socially and politically still. An
important fact here is that while the Mensheviks join in the government, the Bolsheviks
do not. This becomes hugely important later in the narrative.
Despite the admission of more Socialists into the government, the Provisional
Government still struggles with legitimacy in the eyes of workers, soldiers, etc. (basically
the Petrograd Soviet’s constituency). Their ultimate authority is challenged and we also
begin to see policy paralysis. Not only do they lack support, but they are not bringing
about the rapid change people demanded. They don’t have authority to make difficult
decisions and make major changes that would last, mostly because the Petrograd Soviets
had to approve everything as well as the aforementioned reasons.
Since changes were not happening at an acceptable pace for many, we begin to see heavy
social radicalization. The claims of the workers and peasants, as well as the propertied
classes, become more radical.
The Bolsheviks in 1917
Germany facilitates Lenin’s return to Russia.
The April Theses is given, famously from atop a tank. In it, he states that it is time for a
socialist government, as well as calls for an end to cooperation with the Provisional
Government. He wanted to end the Provisional Government and bring in the Petrograd
Soviets as the ruling body. He also calls for an end to cooperation with the liberals.
Lenin also denounces socialist who went to the government side, such as the Mensheviks.
In July many soldiers and people take up Lenin's call. A huge impetus for this was that in
July there was a major offensive launched on by the Provisional Government against
Germany that ended in a horrible defeat. News of the defeat caused many to protest
across Petersburg and other major population centers. These protests quickly explode into
major riots in cities, especially in Petersburg.
Lenin and the Bolsheviks were taken aback and hesitated. Eventually they did join in the
protest and try to make their first moves against the Provisional Government, but it was
too late to act. The Provisional Government quickly put down the protests.
As a result of Bolshevik involvement, government starts trying to post Bolsheviks as
enemies of the country. They shut down the party’s offices and presses. Trotsky arrested
along with many others from the leadership, Lenin flees the country.
Soon after, in August, we have Kornilov Affair.
Kornilov was a conservative who was worried about another revolution breaking out. He
was also very critical of the Petrograd Soviet.
Shortly after the incident with the Bolsheviks and the Protests, Kornilov sends troops to
shut down the Petrograd Soviet. The Provisional Government thought this was an attempt
at a coup and called for help from the Bolsheviks and others. This incident validated
Bolshevik claims and rehabilitates them politically. Trotsky and others are soon released
from prison.
By late August both the Moscow and Petrograd soviets are controlled Bolshevik
majorities. An important thing to keep in mind is that, while in Petrograd and other areas
the Bolsheviks do control the majority, they are not the majority across the country
BUT in rural constituencies, SR’s run the show mostly. Bolsheviks barely on the map.
Even though Lenin is claiming that the Bolsheviks speak for the people, but in reality
they are only speaking for a very specific portion. He says all power to the soviets while
the Bolsheviks begin to permeate all aspects of the government.
Lenin, despite the major power shift towards the Bolsheviks, stays in hiding. In midSeptember he writes a series of letters that said they must act immediately. He was aware
that the Bolsheviks were in the political majority in Moscow and Petrograd and that the
Provisional Government was collapsing.
October 11th, 1917: The Central Committee of the Bolsheviks vote with only 2 against
that its time to seize power.
We also see the formation and organization of the Military-Revolutionary Committee of
the Petrograd Soviet, led by Trotsky, around this time.
They decide that they will act on October 25th, 1917, At the 2nd Congress of Soviets. The
Congress of Soviets is the official national gathering in the capital of delegates from the
various councils across the country.
One faction in the Congress actually wanted to get the approval of the 2nd Congress to
take over at this gathering so that the Bolsheviks would not gain too much control. Lenin
and the Bolsheviks clearly do not want this.
They plan and execute a 3-stage insurrection.
1) Take out railways, post office, telegraphs, etc. to stop the provisional government from
being able to respond.
2) Provocation. They utilized a growing situation in Petrograd. The Provisional
Government order soldiers in Petrograd to go to the front. The Bolsheviks and others see
this as an attempt to disarm the Petrograd Soviet, so the Bolsheviks used this situation to
gather more momentum.
3) Take over at the Congress
At the Congress, Lenin declares victory of “Soviet Power” and the all-Bolshevik
government. He then presents the list of ministers. All are Bolsheviks. Seizure of power
by the Bolshevik party, even though he presents it as a soviet lead group.
The Mensheviks and SR’s respond by walking out and leaving behind a pure Bolshevik
group. They walked out not wanting anything to do with this take over. This decision
proves to be a major double-edged sword. They may have washed their hands of the
takeover, but they also fully handed over the government to the Bolsheviks. Additionally,
this fueled a sort of declaration of war against the SRs and other liberals, as well as
property owners, on behalf of the Bolsheviks.
We then see “Revolution by decree”
Bolsheviks decree: immediate armistice, land for all the peasants, self-determination for
minorities across the empire, and a call to institute labor regulations.
The string of decrees also signifies the beginning of the Russian Civil War.
In attempt to kind of bring back my tl;dr component of the lecture, here’s a very simple
month-by-month breakdown of what occurred between the fall of the Tsar and the
beginning of the Civil War following the October Revolution.
February Revolution 1917
Formation of the Provisional Government. KD’s, Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, and other
liberals in charge.
March, 1917: Petrograd Soviet formed. Tsar abdicates throne.
Dual Power in effect. Soviets reserve the right to approve/disapprove/veto acts of the
Provisional Government
April Crisis, 1917:
Miliukov affair.
People are angry because they don’t want to fight the war anymore unless it is to defend
Russia. Mensheviks and SRs join the Provisional Government. Bolsheviks do not join.
Lenin returns.
April Thesis, 1917: Lenin gives his famous April Thesis atop the tank.
July Days, 1917: People started to revolt. Lenin hesitates, involves Bolsheviks, put down
by Provisional Government. Lenin hesitated to act for numerous reasons, one of the
biggest being that this was not orchestrated and planned by him and Bolsheviks. It fails.
Many Bolsheviks arrested, Lenin fled to Finland.
Kornilov Affair, August 1917 Conservative general, the Commander of all armies.
Started sending troops to Petrograd Soviets due to miscommunication between him and
Kerensky. Kornilov thought he was supposed to stage a troop movement, Kerensky
didn’t understand and thought it was a coup, gets Bolsheviks to help stop this.
Rehabilitates their public image.
September, 1917: Bolsheviks are majority in Moscow and Petrograd Soviets. Decide to
seize power.
October 1917: Seize power in 3 step plan. During the 2nd congress. Lenin decrees the
end of the Provisional Government. Beginning of the Russian Civil War.