The March Revolution

1917 – the first of two

The Initial Outbreak

• Increasing strikes

• Widespread food shortages

• 200 000 strikers in St. Petersburg called for overthrow of the Tsar

Moscow Fallen

• March 14, 1917

• Tsar abdicates

• March 16 – the Soviet (radicals) and the Duma declare a Provisional Government

PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT

Provisional Government

• Promised a Constituent Assembly with universal secret ballot

• to legalize strikes

Power Struggle Begins…

Weakness of the Prov Govt

1. Did not recognize the catastrophic condition of Russia

2. saw themselves as illegitimate because they had not been elected

3. The leaders wished to continue fighting in the Great War

Lenin

“Peace, Bread, and Land”

• Immediate end to war

“Peace, Bread, and Land”

• All power to the Soviets

“Peace, Bread, and Land”

• Seizure of the gentry land

“Peace, Bread, and Land”

“Peace, Bread, and Land”• Seizure of factories

The Last Stages of the Prov Gov’t

Alexander Kerensky

Kornilov Affair

Kornilov Affair• Ongoing protests/strikes worry Kerensky

• He asks Kornilov to protect the Prov Gov

• Kornilov betrayed Kerensky - attempted a coup

• Kerensky turns to the Red Guard (Bolsheviks) to defend the government.

The November Revolution

1917 – the second of two

Bolsheviks take power

November Revolution

• Lenin returned on October 23rd and the Bolsheviks arrested the Provisional Government by the 7th of November

Peace, Bread, Land!