Ten Days That Shook the World · Chapter
Background explained
The chapter sets the stage for the October Revolution by describing the growing polarization in Russian society by late September 1917.
What happens
The chapter sets the stage for the October Revolution by describing the growing polarization in Russian society by late September 1917. While the propertied classes and moderate socialists (Mensheviks and SRs) wanted to slow the revolution, workers, soldiers, and peasants demanded peace, land, and workers' control. The Provisional Government under Kerensky, supported by moderate socialists, attempted repressive measures, driving the masses toward the Bolsheviks. The chapter also notes the rise of the Left SRs, the consolidation of reactionary forces, and the economic sabotage by the bourgeoisie.
Themes in this chapter
Class Conflict and Polarization
The chapter highlights the deepening divide between the propertied classes and the masses, with the former seeking to halt the revolution and the latter demanding radical change.
Workers' Control and Economic Transformation
Workers demanded control of factories, while the government and employers resisted, leading to strikes and sabotage.
Struggle for Legitimacy and Power
The Provisional Government's legitimacy eroded as it failed to deliver peace, land, and reform, while the Bolsheviks gained support by championing these demands.
Peasant Question and Land Reform
Peasants seized land and burned manor houses, frustrated by the government's failure to implement land reform, while Land Committees were jailed.
Characters to notice
- John Reed
Narrator and observer; recounts conversations and events in Petrograd.
- Alexander Kerensky
Premier of the Provisional Government; criticized for coalition with propertied classes and repressive policies.
- Vladimir Lenin
Bolshevik leader in hiding after July Days; his program of Peace, Land, and Workers' Control gains mass support.
- Leon Trotsky
Bolshevik leader imprisoned after July Days; later released.
- Lev Kamenev
Bolshevik leader imprisoned after July Days; later released.
- Grigory Zinoviev
Bolshevik leader in hiding after July Days.
- Victor Tchernov
Socialist Revolutionary minister; criticized for signing manifesto dissolving Finnish Diet.
- Irakli Tsereteli
Menshevik minister; accused of disarming workers and approving capital punishment.
Key passages
“Among the wage-earners and the land-working people it was common to hear talk of 'all land to the peasants, all factories to the workers.'”
Workers and peasants commonly demanded that land be given to peasants and factories to workers.
Illustrates the radical demands of the masses.
“The property-owning classes were becoming more conservative, the masses of the people more radical.”
The rich grew more conservative while the poor became more revolutionary.
Summarizes the polarization in Russian society.
“The Constituent Assembly had been postponed and postponed—would probably be postponed again, until the people were calm enough—perhaps to modify their demands!”
The Constituent Assembly was repeatedly delayed, likely to wait until the people's demands softened.
Reflects popular distrust of the government's intentions.
“The Bolsheviki raised again the slogan so dear to the masses, 'All Power to the Soviets!'—and they were not merely self-seeking, for at that time the majority of the Soviets was 'moderate' Socialist, their bitter enemy.”
The Bolsheviks revived the popular slogan 'All Power to the Soviets,' even though the Soviets were then controlled by their moderate socialist opponents.
Highlights Bolshevik strategy of appealing to mass sentiment.
“Winter was always Russia's best friend. Perhaps now it will rid us of Revolution.”
Business men hoped the harsh winter would end the revolution.
Shows the reactionary hopes of the bourgeoisie.
