In fact the revolution in March had not succeeded. The new government, known as the Provisional Government and led by Alexander Kerensky, did not solve the problems that had caused the revolution. The people had wanted to end the war, but the fighting on the eastern front continued. The people wanted food, but there were still shortages. Most of all, the people wanted a government to represent them, but this government seemed as bad as the Tsar.
This gave Lenin and the Bolsheviks their chance. They had been taken by surprise by the revolution in March, and had had little part to play in it. Lenin, who had been out of the country, returned in April.
By October they were ready to organize a second revolution which would change things much more. Again, there were several short-term causes. The Russian army had suffered terrible losses, and there was a shortage of food.
In this atmosphere the revolutionaries got to work. Leon Trotsky organized a Bolshevik fighting force named the 'Red Guard', and made plans to take over all the important centres in the capital.
On 24 October they struck.
