The social revolutionaries opposed war while the Mensheviks favored the continuation of a defensive war.
3. Why did Lenin’s arrival in Petrograd have such an impact on Russia in April 1917?
Ans: The February revolution had taken Lenin by surprise and he hurriedly prepared to get back to Petrograd. However he had to cross the German territory for that and he had no intention of being in a German prison. But the Germans only helped him get through to Russia hoping that he would cause some mischief in Russia and hence hinder the Russian war effort.
When Lenin arrived, an excited crowd waited for him at the station where he was politely greeted by the Menshevik chairman but firmly told by him that the revolution was going good and they did not him. But Lenin did not pay attention; he brushed Chkheidze aside and immediately made his welcoming speech. He said that the revolution was not complete and called for a worldwide socialist revolution, an immediate end to the war, end to co-operation with the Provisional Government, Soviet to take power and land to be given to the peasants. This “April Theses” of Lenin created a spur in Russia as it was received with boos from the Mensheviks and was termed as ‘ravings of a madman.’ His ideas were even opposed by the Bolshevik Central Committee but later were made as party policy.
The Bolsheviks now provided a radically different alternative to the Provisional Government and appealed for all power for the Soviets. This also was an appeal to the workers and soldiers whose demands and expectations were turning more radical.
4. How did Lenin justify the ‘April Theses?
Ans: Lenin believed that the bourgeoisie were too weak in Russia to carry through the democratic revolution. He said that the proletariat had assumed power in the soviets – they were driving the Russian Revolution in the form of the Petrograd Soviet. And according to him, a move to a middle class dominated parliamentary democracy would be a backward step.
Lenin and Trotsky thought that ‘the weakest link’ in the capitalist chain would break first and that once the revolution had begun it would spread to the proletariat in other countries. They considered Russia to be the weakest link and that war had acted as a catalyst to bring Europe to the brink of a socialist revolution. They knew that Germany would explode into revolution and once a revolution started, the proletariat of the advanced capitalists countries would come to the aid of the Russian proletariat and socialism could be built.
5. What problems did the provisional government face between April and August 1917?
Ans: The provisional government faced four major problems which were the war, the land, the demands of the national minority and the deteriorating economic situation. The conduct of the war would determine the development of the revolution. When it became clear that Milyukov, Minister of War, not only wanted to defend Russia, but also try and make territorial gains from the victory of the Allies, particularly Constantinople, the Socialists in the Soviet were enraged as they were committed to a defensive war. Milyukov was forced into resignation, and the provisional government was in crisis. The peasants were hungry for land and the collapse of central authority meant that no one would be able to stop them from taking it. However they wanted government approval to make their actions legitimate. But the liberals in the provisional government did not want to simply hand over the land to the peasants, as they wanted it to be done within the framework of the law set down by the constituent assembly and they wanted that the landowners be compensated. This seemed reasonable but not to the peasants, and so they began taking as much land from private estates as they could. The national minorities had demands such as outright independence asked for by the Finns and the Poles, and other areas in the Old Russian Empire wanted more autonomy. The Ukrainians demanded self-government which was granted to them by the moderate socialists thus angering the liberals who thought this would lead to the break up of Russia. Food shortages, unemployment and high prices were some of the problems which did not go away after the February Revolution, even when the provisional government took power. The government could not seem to do anything about the food shortages and the peasants were growing more hostile and so moderate socialists in the government and the Soviet found themselves unable to meet the needs of the supporters, the workers.
6. Describe briefly the problems faced by Alexander Kerensky at the end of 1917.
Ans: Alexander Kerensky was laded with many problems by the end of August of 1917. The liberals in provisional government wanted no land reform but demanded defense of property and restoration of military discipline. They were now moving to the right.
The army was disintegrating and the process had begun after the collapse of the June July offensive and was accelerating.
Control was breaking down in the countryside. After the harvest was gathered, land seizures continued. The level of violence also increased.
The soviet was declining in influence and the leaders were increasingly out of touch with workers and soldiers. And support for the Bolsheviks was also increasing. The view point of workers, soldiers and sailors were becoming more radical and the smell of reform was in the air. The economic situation in the cities was deteriorating. There was a shortage of raw materials and grains. And hence the price of goods and food was rising.
There was no control in the city; robbery, theft and beating up were so common.
7. Describe the ‘July Days’ Incidents and explain its consequences.
Ans: It was the frustration and anger of the workers and soldiers that erupted at the beginning of July 1917 in what came to be known as July Days. These were uncontrollable days where rioting took place on the streets profusely. This was sparked by the failure of the summer offensive against Germany, workers’ anger at their disintegrating economic conditions and the Petrograd garrison’s fear that its regiments were to be sent to the front.
The capital was shattered under violence for two defenseless days. Lorries and cars were rushing about the city full of angry citizens and soldiers. Armed groups marched in the streets, and other forces were then used to calm the armed soldiers that had arrived in Petrograd demanding the Soviet to take power. The Soviet leaders were seized and caught but managed to escape.
8. To what extent the Kornilov’s affair was responsible for the October Revolution of 1917?
Ans: Undoubtedly, handing the post of the Supreme Commander of Russian forces to Kornilov was a mistake as he had his own aims and wanted to crush the radical socialists and restore the old authority in Petrograd. When Kerensky noticed what was happening, he panicked and called on the Soviet for help. Though a few of the middle class people would have accepted Kornilov’s methods, the others were terrified as it meant the return of old order and the loss of the gains of the Revolution. Everyone in Petrograd was alarmed and the Bolsheviks organized protection of the city using soldiers, workers and sailors. Kerensky was ready to supply weapons to the secret Bolshevik Red Guard.
The result of this was that the people lost their trust in the Liberals and Kerensky’s reputation was damaged. The workers and soldiers displayed frustration against the Liberals and ruling party and the support of the people now favoured the Bolsheviks.
This Kornilov affair hence can be concluded to have a great effect and responsibility for the Revolution of 1917.
