Ten Days That Shook the World · Chapter
Trotsky’s Speech at the Council of the Russian Republic explained
Trotsky delivers a fiery speech at the Council of the Russian Republic, denouncing the Provisional Government as irresponsible and counterrevolutionary.
What happens
Trotsky delivers a fiery speech at the Council of the Russian Republic, denouncing the Provisional Government as irresponsible and counterrevolutionary. He accuses Kerensky, the Cadets, and the Menshevik and Socialist Revolutionary leaders of betraying the revolution by creating a government that serves the propertied classes, provokes civil war, and threatens to abandon Petrograd to the Germans. He calls for immediate peace, all power to the Soviets, and land to the people, announcing the Bolsheviks' withdrawal from the Council.
Themes in this chapter
Class Conflict and Polarization
Trotsky contrasts the propertied classes' interests with those of workers, peasants, and soldiers, accusing the bourgeoisie of provoking civil war.
Struggle for Legitimacy and Power
The speech challenges the legitimacy of the Provisional Government and the Council, calling for all power to the Soviets.
Counterrevolution and Civil War
Trotsky warns of counterrevolutionary conspiracies and accuses the government of provoking a peasants' revolt and civil war.
Characters to notice
- Leon Trotsky
Delivers the speech, denouncing the government and announcing the Bolsheviks' withdrawal from the Council.
- Alexander Kerensky
Accused of deals with the Cadets and counterrevolutionary policies, including planning to abandon Petrograd.
- General Lavr Kornilov
Referenced as a symbol of counterrevolution; Trotsky claims the government harbors 'open and secret Kornilovs.'
Key passages
“The purpose of the Democratic Conference, which was called by the Tsay-ee-kah, was to do away with the irresponsible personal government which produced Kornilov, and to establish a responsible government which would be capable of finishing the war, and ensure the calling of the Constituent Assembly at the given time.”
The Democratic Conference was supposed to replace the irresponsible government that led to Kornilov's revolt with a responsible one that could end the war and convene the Constituent Assembly on schedule.
Trotsky outlines the original purpose of the Democratic Conference.
“The whole truth is that the bourgeoisie, which directs the policies of the Provisional Government, has for its aim to break the Constituent Assembly.”
The bourgeoisie, controlling the government, intends to sabotage the Constituent Assembly.
Trotsky accuses the propertied classes of undermining democracy.
“We, the faction of Social Democrats Bolsheviki, announce that with this Government of Treason to the People we have nothing in common.”
The Bolshevik faction declares it has no association with this government that betrays the people.
Trotsky announces the Bolsheviks' break with the Provisional Government.