Final answer:
Kerensky responded to Kornilov's coup by releasing and arming the Bolsheviks, a move that ultimately contributed to their success in the October Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
In response to Kornilov's attempted coup in 1917,
Alexander Kerensky
, leader of Russia's Provisional Government, acted swiftly to disarm the coup. He released radical leftists, including Bolshevik leaders, from prison and armed them to resist Kornilov.
Lenin
and his followers were, at this time, in opposition to Kerensky's government. A Petrograd Soviet (a council representing workers, soldiers, and peasants) had been established, seeking to assert its power in the city, while Kerensky and the Provisional Government aimed to retain control. These political complexities truly underscore the instability of the period in Russian history. Ultimately, Kerensky's decision to arm the Bolsheviks would contribute to their future success in the October Revolution.
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