Apr. 13

The Russian Revolutions of 1917

I. The February Revolution.

A. Initiated by women textile workers who spontaneously go on strike in Petrograd.
B. Strikes spread.
C. Troops refuse to fire on strikers.
D. Rapid formation of soviets, workers councils.
E. Without any support, czar forced to abdicate.

II. Dual power--the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet.

III. The background to revolution.

A. Russian reforms in the 1860s.
B. Rise of the revolutionary movement from the 1870s onward.
C. Populism and Marxism.
D. Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.
E. World War I the catalyst to revolution.

IV. April to October 1917.

A. Continual conflict for power and influence between Provisional Government and the soviets.
B. Lenin returns April 1917 and escalates the situation with his willingness to seize power and effective political slogans.
C. Army melting away while generals attempt one last offensive.
D. Growing Bolshevik influence in Petrograd, Moscow, and other cities. Bolsheviks organize Red Guards.
E. But uneasy situation in the summer and early fall--July days and Kornilov counter-revolution.
F. September and early October resurgence of Bolshevik influence, especially in the factories of Petrograd and Moscow and in navy garrisons around Petrograd.

V. October--the decision for a second revolution.

A. Petrograd Soviet and its Military Revolutionary Committee.
B. October 26 (November 7) Bolsheviks assume power and issue wide-ranging democratic demands.

VI. Explaining the Bolshevik victory.