July crisis of 1917: reasons, course and results

The July crisis of 1917 was the result of profound political socio-economic and national contradictions, aggravated in our country after the fall of the autocracy. The latter circumstance led to the fact that representatives of monarchist currents descended from the political arena, and a struggle for power developed in the government. The unsuccessful offensive of the Russian army at the front led to an aggravation of the situation, which contributed to new internal cataclysms.

Prerequisites

The July crisis of 1917 broke out as a result of the accumulated contradictions between the various factions that fought for influence in the Cabinet. Up until June of that year the leading position was occupied by the Cadet Party, which, incidentally, quickly withdrew from the political arena. The Octobrists and the Progressives could not keep at the helm. But, despite this, the remaining groups continued their struggle.

The primacy was transferred to the Socialist-Revolutionaries, who supported the Provisional Government and advocated an alliance with the Cadets. Another influential group was the Mensheviks, who were not a homogeneous force. However, they also advocated an alliance with the provisional power and with the bourgeoisie. Both parties were inclined to the necessity of waging a war to the victorious end. The reasons for the July 1917 crisis are that there was no agreement at the top of the government regarding the country's future and the continuation of its participation in the fighting.

The participation of the

This party demanded the provision of power to the Soviets. The Bolsheviks were the only force that opposed the Provisional Government and demanded Russia's withdrawal from the war. They became particularly active after returning to the country of Lenin in April of the year under review.

A few months later, mass demonstrations were held in Petrograd under Bolshevik slogans. Demonstrators demanded Russia's withdrawal from the war and the transfer of power to its local cells. The July crisis of 1917 began in the early days of the month. In response, the government ordered to shoot the protesters, and also issued a warrant for the arrest of the leaders of the Bolsheviks.

Charges

The party was accused of conducting subversive work in the country on German money and deliberately organized an armed attack against the official authorities.

With regard to this problem, two points of view have been established among scientists. Some researchers believe that Lenin really enjoyed the support of Germany, which was interested in the military defeat of Russia. Other historians argue that there is no basis for such a conclusion.

So that the reader could make at least some idea of how and in what sequence the events unfolded, we put a brief information on this topic in the table.

However, there is a hypothesis that the July crisis of 1917 was a provocation by the government itself, so that there was an occasion to accuse the Bolsheviks of high treason. Be that as it may, the party went underground after these events.

Effects

These events led to serious political changes in the country. At the end of the month a new coalition government was formed, headed by the SR Kerensky. Thus, the official authorities tried to reconcile the interests of various political groups.

The new leader tried to maneuver between the factions, but he did not manage to achieve at least some stability in the country. The July crisis of 1917, the outcome of which led to the Bolsheviks taking the course toward an armed uprising, was the reason for a new military speech, which nearly led to the fall of the government.

This is about the speech of General Kornilov. His rebellion was suppressed with the help of the Bolsheviks, whose positions were significantly strengthened after the incident, which made it easier for them to come to power in October of the year.

Results

In many respects contributed to the success of the coup the July crisis of 1917. The table given in this review shows the main chronology of events. After the execution of the demonstrators, Lenin wrote a new work in which he announced that the peaceful stage of the revolution had come to an end. Thus, he substantiated the need for an armed overthrow of power. Another important result of the crisis was the elimination of dual power in the country. This was due to the Bolsheviks' withdrawal to the underground. The problem of the country's participation in the war remained one of the most acute issues.

Value

The July crisis of 1917 showed the weakness of the Provisional Government and its inability to solve the problems of the country's development. Subsequent events further strengthened the influence of the Bolsheviks, who, without much difficulty, seized power in just a few months. Therefore, this insurrection should be considered the penultimate one in the series of crises that shocked the supreme power in the summer of the year mentioned.