April Crisis. April crisis Why was the April crisis in April

The April Crisis Only until April did the Provisional Government maintain relative stability, but the lack of fundamental reforms led to a sharp increase in the discontent of the people, which was clearly felt by the Bolsheviks, who intensified their agitation among the masses.

April Crisis 1917

July Crisis 1917

June Crisis 1917

COMPOSITIONS AND CRISES OF THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT

The policy of the Provisional Government and its crises.

A revolution is a successful effort to end bad government in order to get worse.

Politics of the Provisional Government:

· Introduction of a complete list of democratic freedoms.

· Continued participation of Russia in the war.

· Proclamation of the Republic.

· Adoption of democratic electoral legislation.

· Abolition of the death penalty for political crimes.

· Delaying the solution of the agrarian question.

· Periodic postponing of elections to the Constituent Assembly.

· After an unsuccessful offensive at the front, the restoration of the death penalty for war crimes in the war zone.

· Introduction of revolutionary military courts.

The first composition of the government (March 2–May 2, 1917) : - Cadets, Octobrists, Progressives, non-Party. Chairman - Prince G. E. Lvov.

Causes of the April Crisis: note by P. N. Milyukov to the allies on the continuation of Russia's participation in the war. Caused the discontent of the soldiers who wanted peace.

The course of the crisis:

o 27.III (9.IV).1917– Declaration of the government on Russia's fidelity to its allied obligations.

o 20.IV (3.V).1917- In response to the note, spontaneous demonstrations began under the slogan “ Down with the war!!!”.

o 5(18).V.1917– A new coalition government has been formed.

Outcomes of the crisis:

1. The most famous supporters of the continuation of the war (P. N. Milyukov and A. I. Guchkov) left the government.

2. Creation of a bloc of liberal parties (Kadets and Octobrists) with moderate socialists (Mensheviks and Social Revolutionaries).

First coalition government ( May 2–July 2, 1917 ) – Cadets, Socialist-Revolutionaries, Mensheviks. Chairman - Prince G. E. Lvov.

July Crisis (July 1917) - Disagreements in the government, an unsuccessful offensive at the front.

o July 3–4, 1917- Demonstration of workers, soldiers and sailors - an attempt by the Bolsheviks to seize power.

Outcomes of the crisis: elimination of dual power, repressions against the Bolsheviks, VI Congress RSDLP (b) - the party is heading for an armed uprising.

Second coalition ( July 3–August 28, 1917 ) Cadets, Socialist-Revolutionaries, Mensheviks. Prime Minister - A. F. Kerensky .

August Crisis (August 25–31, 1917) - General's speech L. G. Kornilova who wanted to establish a military dictatorship, suppress the revolutionary movement, wage the war to a victorious end .

However, the Provisional Government united with all the revolutionary forces, and the Bolsheviks, to eliminate the rebellion of the military .

Results of the August Crisis:

· The arrest of General L. G. Kornilov and his associates.

· Strengthening the position of the Bolsheviks and the beginning of the Bolshevization of the Soviets.

power paralysis.

Third Coalition Government ( August 28–October 25, 1917 ) Cadets, Socialist-Revolutionaries, Mensheviks. Chairman - A.F. Kerensky.

October Crisis- Seizure of power by the Bolsheviks.

LECTURE THREE.

April 18, 1917 Minister of Foreign Affairs P.N. Milyukov sent a note to the allied powers about the popular desire to "bring the world war to a decisive victory", in connection with which the next task is "to repel the enemy who has invaded the very borders of our Motherland." Information about this note on April 20 got into the newspapers, which caused a 100,000-strong anti-war demonstration in Petrograd. Demonstrations and rallies were held in Moscow, Kharkov, Nizhny Novgorod and other cities. Commander-in-Chief of the Petrogoad Military District, General L.G. Kornilov ordered artillery to be sent against the workers, but the officers and soldiers refused to carry out this order. The Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet, seeking to defuse the situation, demanded from the Provisional Government an explanation of P. N. Milyukov's note. The government clarified that by "decisive victory" they mean the achievement of the tasks that were set in the address of March 27. The Executive Committee of the Petrosoviet, having discussed the clarifications received, considered the incident settled.

The April Crisis and G.E. Lvov, A.F. Kerensky and M.I. Tereshchenko to create a coalition government led to the resignation of P.N. Milyukov and A.I. Guchkov, who rejected the idea of ​​a coalition. May 5, 1917 the first coalition government was formed, which included 6 socialists: A.F. Kerensky (military and naval minister), Trudovik P.A. Pereverzev (Minister of Justice), Social Revolutionary V.M. Chernov (Minister of Agriculture), Menshevik I.G. Tsereteli (Minister of Posts and Telegraphs), People's Socialist A.V. Peshekhonov (Minister of Food). The next day, the new government issued a declaration, which set out the tasks of achieving peace as soon as possible without annexation and indemnity, establishing state control over the economy, and preparing an agrarian reform. But despite the efforts of the Provisional Government, it was not possible to stabilize the situation in the country. Since May, labor productivity began to fall, and in June the growth of real wages of workers stopped.

In this situation, the Bolsheviks began to gain more and more influence, especially in the factory committees, trade unions and Soviets. Their slogans, aimed at inciting class hatred, began to impress the simple masses more and more. The Social Revolutionaries and Mensheviks, seeking to defuse the situation, achieved the adoption at the First All-Russian Congress of Soviets of a resolution on confidence in the Provisional Government and the prohibition of the June 10 demonstration prepared by the Bolsheviks in protest against the decision to continue the war. The Central Committee of the RSDLP (b) was forced to cancel the demonstration, but V.I. Lenin, at a meeting of the St. Petersburg Committee of the Bolshevik Party, clearly stated that "the workers must soberly consider that there can be no talk of a peaceful demonstration now."

The First All-Russian Congress of Soviets, having achieved the cancellation of the Bolshevik demonstration, scheduled a demonstration in support of the government for June 18. However, in the processions in Petrograd, Riga, Ivanovo-Voznesensk and other cities, the main slogans were: "Down with 10 capitalist ministers!", "Down with the war!", "All power to the Soviets!", "Bread, peace, freedom." But having launched an offensive on the front on the same day, the government, with the help of national patriots, was able to bring down the anti-government wave. However, soon the third (the second was June), July crisis, it did not survive.

April Crisis 1917, the political crisis of power in Russia that arose shortly after the February bourgeois-democratic revolution, due to irreconcilable contradictions between the masses and the bourgeoisie. It began spontaneously after it became known on April 20 (May 3) that Foreign Minister P.N. On April 18 (May 1), Milyukov addressed the Allied Powers with a note about the readiness of the Provisional Government to continue the war until victory. In Petrograd, the Finnish, Moscow, 180th regiments, part of the 2nd Baltic naval crew, approached the Mariinsky Palace - the residence of the Provisional Government. In total, more than 15 thousand people gathered. The soldiers put forward the slogan: "Down with Milyukov!". On April 21 (May 4), at the call of the Bolsheviks, about 100 thousand workers and soldiers went to a demonstration demanding peace and the transfer of power to the Soviets. A small group of “leftists” from the St. Petersburg Committee of the RSDLP (b) put forward the slogan “Down with the Provisional Government!”, which meant a call for the armed overthrow of the government. On April 22 (May 5), the Central Committee of the RSDLP (b) adopted a resolution by V.I. Lenin, who condemned this slogan as adventurous, since there were no objective conditions for an armed uprising at that time. Counter-revolutionary elements, led by the Cadets, organized counter-demonstrations under the slogan "Trust in the Provisional Government!". There were clashes with the reactionaries, there were casualties. The bourgeois press accused the Bolsheviks of preparing a civil war. Commander-in-Chief of the Petrograd Military District, General L.G. Kornilov ordered to put up artillery against the workers, but the soldiers and officers did not obey. Protest demonstrations were held in Moscow, Revel, Vyborg and other cities.

Events showed that the bourgeois Provisional Government had neither support among the masses nor sufficient military strength. Under these conditions, "the Soviets could (and should) take power into their own hands without the slightest resistance from anyone else" (V. I. Lenin, Poln. sobr. soch., 5th ed., vol. 34, p. .63). But the conciliatory majority of the Soviet entered into a direct collusion with the bourgeoisie. The Socialist-Revolutionary-Menshevik Executive Committee of the Soviet promised support to the Provisional Government if an "explanation" of Milyukov's note was published. On the evening of April 21 (May 4), the Petrograd Soviet discussed the "explanation" received from the government and declared "the incident settled." To save the situation, the bourgeoisie began to maneuver. Hated by the masses, ministers Milyukov and A.I. Guchkov were removed from the government. The first coalition government, announced on May 6 (19), included, along with the Cadets, the leaders of the Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks V.M. Chernov, A.F. Kerensky, I.G. Tsereteli, M.I. Skobelev. The crisis of power was temporarily liquidated, but the causes of its occurrence were not eliminated.

June Crisis 1917, the second political crisis in Russia in the period from February to October: one of the stages of the growing national crisis. Caused by irreconcilable contradictions between the masses of the people and the bourgeoisie on issues of peace and land, on the struggle against economic ruin. The First All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies on June 3-24 (June 16 - July 7), which was dominated by the Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks, supported the bourgeois Provisional Government and rejected the Bolsheviks' demand for an end to the war and the transfer of power to the Soviets. This increased the outrage of the masses. The anti-democratic actions of the Provisional Government [in particular, the order of June 7 (20) on the confiscation of the dacha of the former tsarist minister P.N. Durnovo, where the workers' club and institutions of the trade unions of the Vyborgsky district were located] led to the fact that on June 8 (21) workers of 29 factories of Petrograd went on strike. The Central Committee and the PC of the RSDLP (b), in order to give the performance an organized character, on the same day appointed a peaceful demonstration of workers and soldiers on June 10 (23). At the insistence of the Compromisers, the Congress of Soviets on June 9 (22) banned the demonstration. The Compromisers accused the Bolsheviks of a "military conspiracy". The Central Committee of the RSDLP (b), not wanting to oppose itself to the congress, on the night of 9 to 10 (from 22 to 23) June decided to cancel the demonstration. The Bolsheviks had difficulty keeping the revolutionary enthusiasm of the workers and soldiers. Cadets, Socialist-Revolutionaries, Mensheviks attacked the Bolsheviks, workers and revolutionary soldiers. Fearing to lose the confidence of the people, the SR-Menshevik leaders were forced to take a decision at the congress to hold a general political demonstration on June 18 (July 1) under the sign of confidence in the Provisional Government. Contrary to the expectations of the Compromisers, the demonstration prepared by the Bolsheviks, in which about 500 thousand people took part, was held under the slogans "All power to the Soviets!", "Down with 10 capitalist ministers!", "Bread, peace, freedom!". Demonstrations were held under the same slogans in Moscow, Minsk, Ivanovo-Voznesensk, Tver, Nizhny Novgorod, Kharkov and other cities. The June demonstration showed that "a crisis of unheard-of proportions is approaching Russia." (Lenin V.I., Poln. sobr. soch., 5th ed., vol. 32, p. 362). The June crisis did not result in a crisis of bourgeois power, but it revealed the growing unity of the demands and actions of the workers and soldiers, the growing influence of the Bolshevik Party among the masses. The causes of its occurrence have not been eliminated. This resulted in the July Days of 1917.

July Days 1917 , the July political crisis, the third in Russia in the period from the February bourgeois-democratic revolution to the Great October Socialist Revolution; a new important stage on the way to a national crisis. The reason was the events of late June - early July: an unsuccessful offensive at the front, the disbandment of revolutionary military units. On July 2 (15), the Cadets left the bourgeois Provisional Government, threatening the Mensheviks and Socialist-Revolutionaries to break the government coalition. There was a government crisis. The political situation in the country worsened. On July 3 (16) spontaneous demonstrations broke out in Petrograd. They were started by the soldiers of the 1st Machine Gun Regiment, who were under the strong influence of the anarchists. At a secret meeting on July 2 (15), the anarchists decided to call on the Petrograd workers and soldiers to an anti-government armed demonstration. The Bolsheviks, advocating the peaceful development of the revolution, were against armed action: in the army and provinces, the political crisis had not yet matured, and Petrograd would not have received support. But on the evening of July 3 (16), the soldiers of the Moscow, Grenadier, Pavlovsky, 180th, 1st reserve regiments and the 6th engineer battalion responded to the call of the machine gunners, who went to a demonstration with weapons under the slogan: “Down with 10 capitalist ministers! "," All power to the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies! They were joined by the workers of the Putilov factory and other factories in Petrograd. The compromising leadership of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee forbade the demonstration, but it was impossible to keep the workers from protesting. On the night of July 4 (17), the Central Committee of the RSDLP (b), together with the Petrograd Party Committee and the Military Organization, decided to lead the movement, giving it an organized peaceful character. July 4 (17) around 12 noon. 500 thousand started demonstration of workers, soldiers and sailors of the Baltic Fleet under the slogan "All power to the Soviets!". At the building of the Central Committee of the RSDLP (b) (Kshesinskaya's mansion), the demonstrators were greeted by V.I. Lenin, urging the masses to restraint, he expressed confidence in the victory of the slogan "All power to the Soviets!". 90 representatives from 54 major enterprises suggested that the joint session of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of the Soviets take all power, but the SR-Menshevik All-Russian Central Executive Committee declared the demonstration a "Bolshevik conspiracy" and rejected the demands of the masses. The military authorities sent troops against the peaceful demonstration. Clashes with armed counter-revolutionaries of the "Military League" and others took place near Liteiny Bridge, at the corner of Nevsky Prospekt, Sadovaya Street, and in other places. 56 people were killed and 650 injured. Anti-government demonstrations took place in Moscow, Ivanovo-Voznesensk, Orekhovo-Zuevo, Nizhny Novgorod, Krasnoyarsk, Tomsk and other cities. The will of the people was revealed. The Central Committee of the RSDLP (b) on July 5 (18) published an appeal to end the demonstrations. The Social Revolutionary-Menshevik leadership of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee actively supported the government's punitive measures against the revolutionary people. The workers began to be disarmed, revolutionary military units were disbanded, and arrests began. On July 5-6 (18-19), the editorial office and printing house of the Pravda newspaper, the premises of the Central Committee of the RSDLP (b) were destroyed. On July 6 (19), the Provisional Government issued an order for the arrest of Lenin, who was forced to go underground. On July 7 (20) troops loyal to the government arrived in Petrograd from the front. The government crisis was exacerbated by the resignation of Prime Minister G.E. Lvov. A.F. became Prime Minister on July 8 (21). Kerensky. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee of the Soviets declared the Provisional Government "the government of saving the revolution" and recognized its "unlimited powers and unlimited power." The Socialist-Revolutionary-Menshevik Soviets became a powerless appendage of the bourgeois government. Jul. days. marked the end of dual power. At Lenin's suggestion, the slogan "All power to the Soviets!" was temporarily removed by the 6th Congress of the RSDLP (b). “The counter-revolution organized itself, strengthened itself, and actually took power in the state into its own hands,” wrote Lenin (Poln. sobr. soch., 5th ed., vol. 34, p. 1). The peaceful development of the revolution became impossible. Jul. days. exacerbated the contradictions in the country. The armed struggle of the working people for power was on the agenda.

From the note of the Provisional Government:

“The statements of the Provisional Government, imbued with the new spirit of liberated democracy, of course, cannot give the slightest reason to think that the revolution that has taken place has led to a weakening of the role of Russia in the common allied struggle. Quite the contrary, the popular desire to bring the world war to a decisive victory has only intensified thanks to the consciousness of the common everyone's responsibility."

In response to Milyukov's note, mass anti-war demonstrations took place in Petrograd, Moscow and other cities. Under pressure from the Petrograd Soviet, Milyukov and the War Minister Guchkov were forced to resign. There was the first - April - crisis of the Provisional Government. The leaders of the Cadets and Octobrists invited the Mensheviks and Socialist-Revolutionaries to join the government.

After lengthy negotiations, on May 5, 1917, an agreement was reached on a coalition government. It included 10 ministers representing bourgeois parties and 6 socialist ministers. Socialist-Revolutionary leader V.M. Chernov received the post of Minister of Agriculture. A.F. Kerensky moved to the chair of the military and naval minister.

On June 3, 1917, the First All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies opened. The Mensheviks and Socialist-Revolutionaries had a decisive majority on it. They also prevailed in the new governing body of the Soviets - the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (VTsIK). The delegates adopted a resolution of confidence in the Provisional Government. Menshevik leader I.G. Tsereteli argued that there was no party in Russia that was ready to take power into its own hands. In response, Lenin declared that such a party exists - these are the Bolsheviks.

A mass demonstration was scheduled for June 18 in support of the decisions of the congress. The Bolsheviks called on their supporters to take part in it, but under their own slogans. The main slogan was "All power to the Soviets!". More than 400 thousand people took part in the grandiose manifestation. Contrary to the expectations of the leaders of the congress, the demonstrators mostly carried placards with Bolshevik demands. Massive anti-government demonstrations were also held in Moscow, Kharkov, Tver, Nizhny Novgorod, Minsk and other cities. The second - June - political crisis erupted in the country.

The government tried to get out of it by launching a long-prepared offensive at the front. The military success was intended to bring down the wave of discontent. However, the offensive of the troops of the Southwestern Front soon bogged down.

July crisis of power. State meeting

July 4 in Petrograd under the Bolshevik slogans "All power to the Soviets!" and "Down with the capitalist ministers!" almost half a million demonstrations took place. The day before, some army committees called for the armed overthrow of the Provisional Government, the requisition of enterprises, banks, warehouses, and shops. In some areas of the city there were clashes, there were killed and wounded.

On July 5, the Provisional Government, with the support of the Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet, took control of the situation. Military units from the front arrived in the city. The demonstrators were dispersed. The Bolsheviks were accused of attempting an armed overthrow of power and of having links with the German General Staff. Some party leaders were arrested. Lenin fled to Finland.

The leader of the Bolsheviks came to the conclusion that the Soviets capitulated to the Provisional Government, the counter-revolution had won, and the dual power had ended. He demanded to remove the slogan "All power to the Soviets!".

On July 24, the composition of the second coalition Provisional Government was announced. It included 7 moderate socialists and 8 ministers of the Cadet orientation. Kerensky became Prime Minister and Minister of War.

The task was to rally the forces supporting the government and prevent the country from slipping into the Civil War. Kerensky announced the convening of a State Conference in Moscow with the participation of representatives of the army, leading political and public organizations, and deputies of all State Dumas. The Bolsheviks boycotted the meeting and organized on the day of its opening, August 12, a strike that paralyzed Moscow.

The situation in the capital was extremely tense. By the evening of August 27, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of the Soviets created an emergency body - the Committee of the People's Struggle against Counter-Revolution. The Committee also included representatives of the Bolsheviks. They mobilized up to 40,000 people to fight Kornilov. Armed workers' squads and detachments of the Red Guard. Thousands of revolutionary-minded sailors and soldiers arrived to help the Petrograd garrison, hundreds of agitators were sent to the troops of General Krymov. The railroad workers dismantled the tracks, drove the echelons with the Kornilovites into dead ends. On August 30, almost without a single shot, Kornilov's troops were stopped. Kornilov was arrested and sent to prison.

On September 1, 1917, Kerensky announced the creation of the Directory ("Council of Five") for the operational leadership of the country during the crisis.

The government proclaimed Russia a republic without waiting for any Constituent Assembly. The commitment of the Provisional Government to the idea of ​​continuing the war caused widespread discontent among the people. From May 1917, the Provisional Government became a coalition government. However, he failed to stabilize the situation in the country. Under these conditions, an attempt was made to establish a military dictatorship in the country. It ended in failure.