The Russian Revolution

Explain the importance of the following to the deteriorating condition in Russia up to October/November 1917.

1) The April Thesis
Lenin arrived at the beginning of April with the help of theGermans. He was welcomed by the Bolshevik and he wanted to change the whole course of the revolution.

Immediately in his arrival, he made a speech demanding the following:
* No co-operationwith the Provisional Government
* The war should be ended immediately
* The land should be given to the peasants
* The Soviets should take power.
This points were known as the “AprilThesis”. They were important because Lenin argued that there should be a second and socialist revolution. He was supported by the Bolshevik party, which brought Lenin’s ideas into slogans for peasantsdemanding “Bread, Peace and land” and “All power to the Soviets”.
2) The July Days:
The war was the big issue that distinguished the Bolsheviks from other groups. Only they opposed the war.Over the summer of 1917, the ordinary people became more and more opposed to the war as shortages continued. Matters came to a head in July, when the Provisional Government launched a major attack onthe Germans. This turned out to be a huge mistake, leading to a terrible defeat. It sparked an enormous demonstration in Petrograd, which became known as the ‘July Days’. Soldiers, sailors and workerspoured onto the streets on 16 and 17 to protest about the war. Naturally, they turned to the Bolsheviks, the anti-war Party, to lead them. But the Bolsheviks were not ready to seize power.
Thedemonstrations turned to rioting, and eventually troops were sent in to break up the mobs. Kerensky used this opportunity to produce evidence—letters—that seemed to show that Lenin was in the pay of theGermans. Lenin fled to Finland, and other leading Bolsheviks were arrested. It seemed that the Bolsheviks had missed their opportunity. Kerensky became Prime Minister.

3) The Kornilov Affair...