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Russian Revolutions of 1917 | ISC Class 11 History

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HistoryISC Class 11 · Rise of Communism under Stalin in Russia

The March Revolution, the Provisional Government and the November Revolution (ISC Class 11 History)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Autocracy, peasant and worker grievances, and defeat and hunger in World War I caused the March Revolution of 1917 and the Tsar's abdication. The weak Provisional Government kept fighting and delayed land reform, so Lenin's Bolsheviks, promising Peace, Land and Bread, seized power on 24-25 October (6-7 November) 1917.

Understand The March Revolution, the Provisional Government and the November Revolution

Causes of the March Revolution. Autocracy under Nicholas II with a powerless Duma after 1905; poor peasants wanting the nobles' land; workers with long hours, low wages and crowded housing; minorities resenting Russification; World War I defeats and over 7 million casualties by 1917, with the Tsar in personal command from 1915; a discredited court under Rasputin's influence; inflation and bread and fuel shortages in winter 1916-17.

Course and results. Strikes and bread riots in Petrograd beginning on International Women's Day; soldiers sent to suppress them joined the crowds; the Petrograd Soviet of workers' and soldiers' deputies formed. Nicholas II abdicated in March 1917, ending 300 years of Romanov rule. A Provisional Government of Duma leaders (Prince Lvov, later Kerensky) promised a Constituent Assembly. Dual power: the Petrograd Soviet shared authority and its Order No. 1 told soldiers to obey it first. Civil liberties were granted and exiles, including Lenin, returned.

Weaknesses of the Provisional Government. It continued the war (failed June 1917 offensive); postponed land reform until the Assembly, so peasants seized land; delayed elections; shared power with the Soviet; could not solve food shortages and inflation; was unelected and middle-class; and in the Kornilov affair (August-September 1917) Kerensky had to arm the Bolshevik Red Guards, strengthening them.

Bolshevik seizure of power. Lenin returned in April 1917 with the April Theses: end the war, land to peasants, nationalise banks, All power to the Soviets; slogans Peace, Land and Bread. After the July Days he fled, but the Kornilov affair revived the party; by September the Bolsheviks had majorities in the Petrograd and Moscow Soviets. Trotsky led the Military Revolutionary Committee. On 24-25 October (6-7 November) they seized key points and the Winter Palace almost without resistance; the Congress of Soviets approved a Council of People's Commissars under Lenin, whose first decrees were on Peace and on Land. Note: Russia used the old calendar until 1918, so ISC says March and November.

The March Revolution, the Provisional Government and the November Revolution: key facts

Calendar
Old style October 24-25 = new style November 6-7 | 13 days difference
March 1917 results
  • Abdication
  • Provisional Government
  • Petrograd Soviet
  • Dual power
April Theses
  • End the war
  • Land to peasants
  • Nationalise banks
  • All power to the Soviets
Bolshevik slogans
  • Peace
  • Land
  • Bread

How to answer The March Revolution, the Provisional Government and the November Revolution questions

Expect 4-mark causes or weaknesses questions and an 8-mark question linking March to November.

  1. 1List causes of March in political, social and war categories.
  2. 2State results: abdication, Government and Soviet.
  3. 3List weaknesses in order of importance.
  4. 4Explain how Bolshevik slogans filled the gap.

The March Revolution, the Provisional Government and the November Revolution in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Calendar gap

Suppose a diary dated 24 October in the old calendar is compared with a diary using the modern calendar.

What date does the modern diary show?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Old style lags by 13 days.
  2. 24 + 13 = 37, so 6 November.

Answer: 6 November.

Memory hook: Add 13 days.

A promise delayed

Suppose a new government says it will give land to peasants only after an assembly meets, and peasants start taking land at once.

Which weakness of 1917 does this show?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The Provisional Government postponed land reform.
  2. Peasants seized land themselves.

Answer: Postponing land reform.

Memory hook: Wait, and others act.

Tricks to remember The March Revolution, the Provisional Government and the November Revolution

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • AWPNR

    Autocracy, Workers, Peasants, Nationalities, Russia at war: causes.

    Use it when: March causes.

  • PLB

    Peace, Land, Bread.

    Use it when: Bolshevik slogans.

The March Revolution, the Provisional Government and the November Revolution: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Provisional head · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

Who headed the Provisional Government first?
(a) Prince Lvov
(b) Kerensky
(c) Lenin
(d) Trotsky

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Duma leader.

Answer: (a) Prince Lvov.

Example 2: April Theses · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

State three demands of Lenin's April Theses.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. End the war.
  2. Transfer land to the peasants and nationalise banks.
  3. All power to the Soviets.

Answer: Peace, land to peasants and all power to the Soviets.

Example 3: Causes of March · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain four causes of the March Revolution of 1917.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Autocracy of the Tsar and a powerless Duma.
  2. Land hunger of peasants and worker grievances.
  3. War defeats, over 7 million casualties and the Tsar blamed.
  4. Food and fuel shortages in winter 1916-17.

Answer: Autocracy, grievances, the war and shortages.

Example 4: Weaknesses · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain four weaknesses of the Provisional Government.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. It continued the war after a failed June 1917 offensive.
  2. It postponed land reform so peasants seized land.
  3. It shared authority with the Petrograd Soviet.
  4. It could not solve shortages and was unelected.

Answer: War, land, dual power and shortages.

Example 5: Source work · 5 marks · Source-basedHOTS / competency

Read the extract and answer.
The Kornilov affair (August-September 1917): when General Kornilov marched on Petrograd, Kerensky had to arm the Bolshevik Red Guards to defend the city, which strengthened them.
(i) Who was the general named? [1]
(ii) Why did Kerensky arm the Red Guards? [2]
(iii) How did this help the Bolsheviks? [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (i) General Kornilov.
  2. (ii) To defend Petrograd from Kornilov's march.
  3. (iii) It armed and revived the Bolsheviks; by September they had majorities in the Petrograd and Moscow Soviets.

Answer: (i) Kornilov (ii) to defend Petrograd (iii) it armed and revived the Bolsheviks.

Where students lose marks in The March Revolution, the Provisional Government and the November Revolution

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Mixing calendars

    Dates given in new style only.

    Do this: Say 24-25 October (6-7 November).

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Calling November a mass uprising

    Almost without resistance is forgotten.

    Do this: The Bolsheviks seized key points and the Winter Palace almost without resistance.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Omitting dual power

    Soviet role missed.

    Do this: Describe the Petrograd Soviet and Order No. 1.

    Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks.

Exam tips

  • Use March and November as ISC does.
  • List causes in categories.
  • Link slogans to groups.
  • Be neutral about leaders.

Practice questions on The March Revolution, the Provisional Government and the November Revolution

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    Order No. 1 of the Petrograd Soviet told soldiers to:
    (a) obey the Soviet first
    (b) obey the Tsar
    (c) go home
    (d) join the Duma

    Hint

    Dual power.

    Answer

    (a) Obey the Soviet first.

  2. Q2 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Describe the course of the March Revolution in Petrograd.

    Hint

    Strikes, soldiers.

    Answer

    Strikes and bread riots began on International Women's Day; soldiers sent to suppress them joined the crowds; the Petrograd Soviet was formed and the Tsar abdicated.

  3. Q3 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    The Bolsheviks seized power on 25 October (old style). Give the new-style date and the number of days by which the old calendar lagged.

    Hint

    Add 13 days.

    Answer

    25 October + 13 days = 7 November (new style); the old calendar lagged by 13 days.

  4. Q4 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Explain how Lenin's slogans appealed to different groups.

    Hint

    Soldiers, peasants, workers.

    Answer

    Peace appealed to war-weary soldiers, Land to peasants and Bread to hungry workers; All power to the Soviets challenged the Provisional Government.

  5. Q5 · 3 marks · Assertion-reasonHOTS / competency

    Assertion (A): The Provisional Government lacked legitimacy.
    Reason (R): It was not elected and represented mainly the middle classes.
    (a) Both true and R explains A
    (b) Both true but R does not explain A
    (c) A true, R false
    (d) A false, R true

    Hint

    Unelected.

    Answer

    (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Bolshevik slogans?Show answer

    Peace, Land, Bread.

  2. 2.Who led the MRC?Show answer

    Trotsky.

  3. 3.Who returned in April 1917?Show answer

    Lenin.

  4. 4.First decrees?Show answer

    On Peace and on Land.

  5. 5.Duma leader PM?Show answer

    Prince Lvov.

The March Revolution, the Provisional Government and the November Revolution: frequently asked questions

Why two dates?

Old and new calendars differ by 13 days.

What is dual power?

The Government and the Petrograd Soviet shared authority.

What was Rasputin's role?

He influenced the court, causing scandal.