# Appeals and Proclamations explained — Ten Days That Shook the World

> Chapter companion for Ten Days That Shook the World by John Reed.

## What happens

The Military Revolutionary Committee issues decrees announcing the overthrow of Kerensky's government, calling for vigilance against counterrevolutionary officers, ordering the arrest of General Kornilov and his accomplices, freeing arrested Land Committee members, and declaring that all power now belongs to the Soviets.

## Themes in this chapter

### Struggle for Legitimacy and Power

The Military Revolutionary Committee asserts its authority by issuing decrees that remove Provisional Government officials and order arrests, claiming to act on behalf of the Congress of Soviets.

### Counterrevolution and Civil War

The call to arrest officers who do not support the Revolution and the targeting of Kornilov's conspiracy highlight the immediate threat of counterrevolutionary forces.

## Character check-ins

### Alexander Kerensky

His government is declared overthrown by the Military Revolutionary Committee.

### General Lavr Kornilov

Ordered to be arrested and brought to Petrograd for trial as a conspirator.

## Key lines

> The Petrograd garrison has overturned the Government of Kerensky, which had risen against the Revolution and the People.

The Petrograd garrison has overthrown Kerensky's government, which had opposed the revolution and the people.

_The committee frames the coup as a defensive action against a counterrevolutionary government._

> Soldiers! For peace, bread, land, and popular government!

Soldiers! We fight for peace, bread, land, and government by the people!

_A rallying cry summarizing the Bolshevik program._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/1-appeals-and-proclamations
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters