The Bolshevik seizure of power

• July Days meant Bolshevik support dropped dramatically as the PG gained control
• October 1917, situation changed 
• August, Kornilov Affair lead to fears of a right-wing military takeover 
• Bolsheviks no longer seen as a threat, no defenders of the Revolution
• The Affair completely undermined the Prime Minister, Kerensky
• Lenin supported PEACE (Bolsheviks opposed war) LAND (support for land seizures by peasantry) BREAD (end food shortages in cities)
• Slogans gained Bolsheviks support from industrial workers and poor peasants
• Bolsheviks recruited 'Red Guards' in Petrograd factories 
• Red Guards had gathered arms during the Kornilov Affair 
• Kerensky was preparing to defend the capital against the general

• 9th August, PG proposed timetable for national elections to a Constituent Assembly (for new constitution)
• 12th November, elections, 8th November, oppening session of Constituent Assembly
• Lenin knew Social Revolutionaries would win the most votes and elections
• Bolsheviks realised they would have to seize power before the elections
• Lenin suggested all power be handed to the All-Russia soviet, where Bolsheviks had large support
• Sept, Bolsheviks had majority seats in Petrograd Soviet (1st time) as PG became even more unpopular 
• All-Russia soviet became the national institution which retained the respect of the population
• 10th October, Lenin stopped hiding & entered Petrograd, met with Central Committee of Bolshevik Party 
• Persuaded the Committee that armed takeover was neccessarry (Kamenev and Zinoviev opposed)
• Planning of takeover was given to Trotsky 
• Lenin hid Bolshevik involvement by handing over planning to the Military Revolutionary Committee 

• (Started by PG) 24th October, PG attempted to close down 2 Bolshevik newspapers in Petrograd
• Evening, Lenin put plan into action immediately (feared PG trying to clamp down on Bolshevik activity)
• Bolsheviks had planned to use MRC of the Petrograd to take over the capital on 26th October
• MRC under control of Trotsky, when seized power they would announce they did on behalf of the Soviet
• 24th October, MRC and Red Guards occupied Petrograd and arrested most of the PG within Winter Palace
• Faced little opposition (women soldiers and some officer cadets) minimal resistance
• PG members who were not arrested didnt offer resistance, unnoticed by most of the Petrograd population
• 25th, MRC announced PG was disposed and state power belonged to Military Revolutionary Committee
• Karensky escaped from Petrograd attempting to get loyal troops to crush the Bolsheviks
• Russian Parliament dispersed by Red Guards 
• All-Russia Soviet meeting, Lenin announced to the All-Russia Soviet that the PG had been overthrown
• Bolshevik representatives (390) within the All-Russia Soviet were keen to accept Lenin's actions
• Mensheviks had only 80 seats and Socialist Revolutionaries only 180 so approved Bolshevik takeover

Changing circumstances

• Early 1917 Bolshevik most unlikely group to overthrow PG
• Before Lenin returned, Kamenev and Zinoviev supported PG
• Until August, all Bolshevik efforts failed
• Kornilov Affair gave Bolsheviks opportunity to appear as defenders of the PG against the Army
• Recieved weapons from Government to launch armed uprising, PG looked weak/dependent on Bolsheviks

Timing

• Claimed they were acting on behalf of Soviet who shared political power with PG
• Kerensky knew Bolsheviks were planning takeover but did not act decisively
• Organised and executed takeover with great efficiency (due to Trotsky)

Weakness of Provisional Government

• Little support for PG withing Petrograd and revolution raised major issues 
• PG failed to sort (food shortages, inflation, land questions and war continuation)
• October 1917, failures dramatically reduced authority and popularity
• Kerensky had support from some army units outside the capital
• His attempts to crush the Bolsheviks (Cossak troops and officer cadets) put down by Red Guards
• This was the last attempt from the PG to regain control