THE K

ORNILOV

AFFAIR

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Learning Intentions1. Know who

Kornilov was.2. Understand WHY

he staged an attempted takeover of the government.

3. Understand how this helped the Bolsheviks

BACKGROU

ND NOTE

S

• In January 1917 there were 40,000 Bolshevik members. Lenin was in Switzerland.

• The February Revolution occurred without the Bolsheviks.

• In April Lenin returned. His April Theses “Bread, Peace, Land and All Power to the Soviets” is at first dismissed as too radical.

• Lenin pushes for its acceptance – Boshevik numbers climb from 80,000 (April) to 200,000 (July).

• July uprising fails. Lenin flees, Trotsky is arrested, the Red Guard (Bolshevik military wing) is disarmed.

• Today’s Question – Why was Kerensky forced to release and arm the Bolsheviks?

KORNILOV – A GENERAL WITH A VERY CONSERVATIVE ATTITUDE, LOYAL TROOPS AND A FIERCE REPUTATION (AND A COOL SYMBOL)