FORCES

FORCES

1. LEADERSHIP

   • TSARISM
     • Tsar Nicholas II
       • Weak leader
       • Lacked intelligence
       • Believed he had 'divine right' to rule
       • Resistant to change
       • 'Bloody Sunday Massacre': Jan 9 1905
       • October Manifesto
       • Promised democracy: backtracked by 1914
     • Tsarina Alexandra
       • Lacked intelligence
       • Superstitious
       • Susceptible to the influence of Rasputin
       • Isolated from the lives of average Russians
     • Rasputin
       • His influence on the royal family caused concern among Russians of all social classes as they believed it was affecting the Tsar's ability to rule properly
     • 1905: Russia broke into revolution
   • LEON TROTSKY
     • Finally joined the Bolsheviks in August
     • Was anxious for the Soviet to seize power
     • By far the best orator
       • Could really sway crowds
       • Probably better known than Lenin
     • Role in 1905 revolution
       • Deputy chairman of the St Petersburg Soviet
     • Role in preparing for October Revolution
       • Persuading Lenin to wait until October
     • Setting up and controlling Military Revolutionary Committee
     • Reacting to Kerensky's blunders
     • Planning details of the TAKE-OVER
       • Suggests that he was more important than Lenin in the ACTUAL seizure of power
   • ALEXANDER KERENSKY
     • Minister for War (a SR member)
     • Only person who was both a member of Prov. Gov. & Petrograd Soviet
     • Supported Russia continuing war
       • Ordered launch of JUNE OFFENSIVE against the Austrians (hurt his reputation) (military failure)
       • JULY DAYS
       • Following the failed June Offensive & Kerensky's insistence on continuing the war, the BOLSHEVIKS GAINED MAJORITIES in both Petrograd and Moscow Soviets & Trotsky became Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet
     • (October) Announced plans for a pre-parliament to advise the Prov. Gov. - have reps from various parties - condemned by Lenin and Bolshs.walked out
     • Closed Bolsh. and Soviet newspapers - fearing a Bolsh. uprising, attempted to round up the Bolsheviks (for a second time!) using the few troops he had left. LENIN NOW ACTED.
     • inability to solve economic crises of rising prices + land distribution
     • Inadequate defences in October Revolution
   • LENIN
     • Absent Revolutionary
     • Great organisational abilities & leadership skills
     • Strong personality to force through decisions
     • Totally dedicated to politics & revolution
     • Good orator
       • Ability to lay ideas simply
     • Did not look for personal gain from the Revolution
     • Outstanding leader
       • held Bolsh. party together when it might have fragmented over (e.g.) October Uprising, the Red Army, and the NEP
     • Brilliant Theorist
       • Developments of Marxism important for Russian Revolution
         • Concept of a small revolutionary party that could seize power as a vanguard on behalf of the working class (CRUCIAL IN 1917)
         • Development (with Trotsky) of the notion that the proletariat could carry through a socialist revolution without going through the 'bourgeois-democratic stage' (too weak) led to the April Theses, Bolshevik opposition to the Prov. Gov. & the Oct. uprising
   • PRINCE LVOV
     • Resigned as Prime Minister a day after the end of the July Days
       • In favour of Kerensky
     • Leader of the Prov. Gov. until July 1917
     • A progressive & humanitarian individual who was a member of the kadets
   • GENERAL LAVR KORNILOV
     • THE KORNILOV REVOLT (26 AUGUST 1917)
       • JULY DAYS sparked calls for a need for more discipline & stronger government - right wing
       • The revolt collapsed, Kornilov arrested
     • Officer of the Russian Army, new Commander-in-Chief, led these calls
       • Demanded re-introduction of death penalty at the front line
       • Dismissed by Kerensky - feared he might have pretensions to be a dictator
       • Ordered his troops to march on Petrograd believing the Bolsheviks had carried out a coup.
       • Kerensky formed 'RED GUARD' units of workers, soldiers & sailors to resist Kornilov
   • LEV KAMENEV
     • Bolshevik
       • Lenin condemned 'ACCOMMODATIONISM'
     • Member of Politburo
       • Part of TRIUMVIRATE
       • 'Left'
         • Sacked (as well as Zinoviev from roles as Moscow and Leningrad Party Chairmen
   • JOSEF STALIN
     • Central Committee member (guided Bolsh. party while Lenin away)
       • Adopted a policy of conditional support for Prov. Gov. & reconciliation with the Mensheviks
         • Lenin's return changed this (April)
           • Lenin condemned Kamenev and Stalin's policy of 'ACCOMMODATIONISM'
     • TROTSKYIST VIEW: there are Marxist-Leninists who believe that Stalin corrupted Lenin's revolution- UNFINISHED REVOLUTION because of Stalin's corrupting influence
     • Both Stalin & Trotsky objected to NEP
       • Stalin told his supporters that 'ENRICH' is not our slogan
     • Bolshevik & member of the Politburo
       • Main contender for the leadership (as well as Trotsky)
       • Early victory over Trotsky: gave eulogy at Lenin's funeral = looked like Lenin's natural successor
     • Ideological clash with Trotsky
       • 'Socialism in One Country'
     • Wanted to take control of CPSU: would have to defeat
       • Trotsky
       • 'Left' & 'Right'
       • Total power
   • GRIGORY ZINOVIEV
     • Wrote an article for Bolsh. newspaper with Kamenev stating that Russia was not ready for a revolution
       • Kerensky thought they were bluffing in order to lull the Prov. Gov. into a false sense of security (ANOTHER MISTAKE)
     • Bolshevik
       • 'Left'
     • Promoted Lenin's position
       • "Be clear that the New Economic Policy is only a temporary deviation, a tactical retreat, a clearing of the land for a new decisive attack of labour against the front of international capitalism."
     • Member of Politburo
       • During the Civil War, political decision making moved from SOVNARKOM to the Politburo
       • Formed a TRIUMVIRATE with Kamenev and Stalin to isolate Trotsky inside the Politburo in order to isolate Trotsky from the rest of the CPSU
   • ALEXEI RYKOV
     • Member of Politburo
       • 'Right'
   • MIKHAIL TOMSKY
     • Member of Politburo
       • 'Right'
         • Stalin allies himself with the 'Right' & promotes 'Socialism in One Country' to defeat Trotsky's 'Left's' 'Permanent Revolution' idea