Reasons For the Bolsheviks' Seizure of Power (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE History)
Revision Note
How was the October Revolution Different to Other Revolutions in Russia? - Timeline & Summary
The October Revolution was very different to the revolutions in 1905 and March 1917. In 1928, the Bolsheviks commissioned Sergei Eisenstein to create a film about the October Revolution. The film, October, shows masses of people storming the gates of the Winter Palace under heavy gunfire. In reality, the gates of the Winter Palace were unguarded and open. The Bolsheviks faced little resistance from the remaining members of the Provisional Government. Historians consider the events of October 1917 a coup. As a result, the only popular revolution in Russia was in March 1917. This is because the events of 1905 did not result in the overthrow of the tsar.
Many Russians considered the October Revolution as a temporary change of government. Tsereteli, the leader of the Mensheviks, stated that the Bolsheviks' power would not last three weeks. At this point, the Bolsheviks were a small, extremist party. The Bolsheviks would end up establishing a dictatorship that remained in power for over 70 years.
Key Members of the Bolshevik Party
Examiner Tip
There were many more members of the Bolshevik Party. By early October, membership stood at 200,000. However, for your exam, try to remember these five key figures.
Return of Lenin and the April Thesis
The Tsarist government had exiled Lenin multiple times
He was not in the country during the March Revolution
In April, Lenin returned to Russia
Germany funded his journey
They believed that Lenin's presence in Russia would force Russia to surrender in the First World War
Lenin travelled on the 'sealed train'
This means that Lenin travelled through countries without passport checks
When Lenin returned to Petrograd, he made a speech called the 'April Thesis'
This outlined his key policies:
The April Theses persuaded many workers to support the Bolsheviks
The workers chanted these statements in the July Days
Support for the Bolsheviks declined after July
Lenin did not support the July Days protest
He fled from Russia again
Events in the October Revolution
Worked Example
Describe how the Bolsheviks took power on 6th–8th November 1917
4 marks
Answer:
The Bolsheviks seized control of Petrograd (1). The Red Guards stormed the Winter Palace (1). Once inside the Winter Palace, the Bolsheviks arrested members of the government (1). Kerensky fled Petrograd (1).
Examiner Tip
This style of question does not require you to explain your answer. The Cambridge IGCSE gives you a point for each relevant piece of information that you write in your answer. Therefore, do not spend any additional time trying to describe or explain each reason. You should aim to complete the question in four minutes, one minute per point. This will give you one minute to read through your answer.
Outcomes of the October Revolution
The Provisional Government was no longer in charge of Petrograd
The Bolsheviks had control of Petrograd
This was a key city in the Russian Empire
The Bolsheviks did not have control over the whole of Russia
The empire was large
The Bolsheviks had many enemies that did not want them to seize power
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