timeline

From February to October The revolution went through three main phases. Revolution The October Revolution After a brief moment of widespread euphoria following Why was it the Bolsheviks who came to the fore in this the abdication, the left began to set the agenda. Soviets situation? In the first place, despite some hesitation in the were set up everywhere. In addition, local committees — leadership, they were more determined and confident in Russia, 1917 taking bold action to support Soviet power than any other peasant (parish) committees, factory committees, regimental On the centenary of the Russian Revolution, committees and battleship committees — turned the formerly party. The promises of the other two major forces on the The February Revolution we continue our series of articles focusing passive population into radical revolutionaries. Peasants refused left — the Socialist Revolutionaries and the Mensheviks The Russian Revolution is often thought to pay rents, workers demanded higher wages and soldiers and — had been undermined by their participation in the PG to have begun in the streets of Petrograd. on the events of 1917 sailors refused to obey the authority of officers. which had delivered little to the masses. In the traditional interpretation of the As the popular movement gathered strength after events, women (in particular) began to Counter-revolution September, so the Bolshevik leaders — who were demonstrate because of a shortage of Alarmed by this, the Provisional Government (PG) and the reluctant to take radical steps despite a thunderous bread. The demonstrations spread, so the property owners fought back. When an attempted coup led series of exhortations by Lenin from his safe house in interpretation goes, until groups of soldiers by Kronstadt sailors in July was a failure, the right began to Finland — edged towards taking power. In the event, joined in and fired on the police. This assert its authority. This opened a second phase of counter- the Military Revolutionary Committee of the Petrograd started a mass mutiny in the garrison which revolution. This phase culminated in an attempted right-wing Soviet was the agency which overthrew the PG, not soon forced the tsar to abdicate. coup by the country’s leading general, Kornilov, in late summer. the Bolshevik party. However, with Lenin back in However, how could disturbances in one Revolution Petrograd, it was the Bolsheviks who quickly came city bring down the autocracy in a week The coup’s failure showed the masses it was now or never to control the Soviets. Many of the supporters had when it had survived much worse in 1905? when it came to achieving their objectives of land seizure, self- expected Soviet power, not Bolshevik power. Modern historical research has revealed that government, better living standards and an end to the war. behind the scenes, Duma (parliamentary) A wave of radicalisation, with land seizure by peasants politicians and the army general staff were in the forefront, swept the country from Dates according to decisive in forcing the tsar’s abdication. September on. Russian calendar. They thought they were nipping social For Western dates, revolution in the bud. Instead, they were add 13 days, starting a massive upheaval. e.g. 25 October = 7 November.

Jan–Feb 1917 2 March Tsar abdicates. 18 June–30 June 31 August–5 September early October 12 November 6 January 1918 Escalating series of Provisional Government Russian military offensive 23 July Trotsky For first time, Bolshevik Bolshevik Central Committee Constituent Assembly Constituent Assembly worker demonstrations proclaimed in agreement begins and quickly turns arrested (released resolutions are passed puts armed uprising ‘on the elections begin. About dispersed after one day in Petrograd with Soviet into a serious defeat 4 September) by the Moscow and agenda’. Petrograd Soviet 40% of vote goes to Petrograd Soviets sets up Military Revolutionary Socialist Revolutionaries Committee (MRC) to defend and 25% to Bolsheviks, the city in the event of a 10% to Liberals and German attack right-wing parties 1917 1918

24–6 October Kerensky orders troops to control key ModernHistoryReviewExtras points in Petrograd. MRC Go online for a printable pdf of this 26–30 August orders its forces to counter centre spread (www.hoddereducation. early July ‘July Days’. Kornilov the PG troops. PG ministers co.uk/historyreviewextras) 26–7 February Group Failed seizure of power attempts to arrested. Kerensky escapes of Pavlovsky Guards by sailors of Kronstadt. suppress the 8–9 September to seek help. Soviet fire on police and start 4 April Lenin unveils Lenin withdraws to Petrograd Soviet Bolsheviks Government of Peoples’ 20 November Chris Read is a professor a mutiny. Petrograd his strategy in the Finland. Kerensky but fails and is become leaders of Commissars (Sovnarkom) Bolsheviks overthrow of Russian history at The Soviet set up April Theses becomes prime minister arrested Petrograd Soviet set up with Lenin as chair the army general staff University of Warwick.

16 Modern History Review April 2017 www.hoddereducation.co.uk/historyreview 17