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Summary The Provisional Government's main mistake was to carry on the war. The burden proved disastrous as it tried to face the threat of the Bolshevik Communists, who were working through the Soviets to bring down the government. Gradually, events spiralled out of the Provisional Government's control.
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Going DeeperThe following links will help you widen your knowledge: BBC Bitesize - Weaknesses of the Provisional Government Old Bitesize - on the WaybackMachine
Old textbook accounts of the Provisional Government PJ Larkin, Revolution in Russia (1965) Norman Lowe, Mastering Modern World History (1988)
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The Provisional GovernmentThe February Revolution was a popular uprising which brought the middle class to power. The Duma took over the government, and it set up a ‘provisional government’ – a temporary 12-man executive led by Alexander Kerensky. It was a moderate government, and – although faced by difficult problems – it tried to rule Russia in a way which was not too revolutionary. From the beginning, the Provisional Government faced a challenge from the Petrograd 'Soviet' – a committee of some 3,000 delegates set up on 2 March, which held the allegiance of workers and soldiers ... to the extent that the Provisional Government is sometimes called the 'dual government'.
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Events of the Provisional Government March The Provisional Government was faced by massive problems (inflation, hunger, peasant riots, war, Bolshevik and Tsarist revolutionaries). The Petrograd Soviet issued Order No. 1 – workers and soldiers must obey the Provisional Government only if the Soviet agrees. However, the Soviets were still controlled by the Mensheviks (moderate Communists). April The German government smuggled the Bolshevik leader Lenin back into Russia. He published his manifesto: the ‘April Theses’. Riots; the Provisional Government took in some Socialist/Menshevik from the Soviet ('First Coalition') June Failure of the June military offensive against Austria. July Riots 16-20 July – the July Days – were defeated; the Bolshevik leaders were arrested and Pravda closed down. The First Coalition collapsed, and on 24 July Kerensky formed a 'Second Coalition' with some Socialist/Menshevik from the Soviet; the government confirmed freedom of speech, and the rght to form trade unions and strike. September The monarchist General Kornilov revolted (10-13 September), but was defeated ... by Bolshevik forces. The Second Coalition collapsed; Kerenksy patched together a 'Pre-Parliament' (14 October) including Kadets and landowners, postponed elections and land reform, and dismissed the Duma. Septermber-October The Bolsheviks took control in the Soviets of many cities,including the Petrograd Soviet (Trotsky became its President). Bolshevik Revolution.
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Consider:1. Which was the biggest problem facing the Provisional Government? 2 Which was the turning point in the fortunes of the Bolsheviks - the time after which their success became likely?
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Problems of the Provisional Government[Government That’s Provisional Will Be Killed]
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Problems/ Weaknesses |
Action |
Success/ Failure? |
1. GovernmentThe Petrograd Soviet was very powerful – it built up a nation-wide network of Soviets which took their orders from it. Order Number 1 forbade soldiers and workers to obey the provisional Government unless the Soviet agreed. (ie the govt. was powerless to act unless the Soviet agreed.)
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The Provisional Government did nothing to try to end the power of the Soviets. |
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2. Terrible conditionsInflation and hunger got worse because the war didn’t end. (ie the people stayed angry.)
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The Provisional Government didn’t manage to end the food shortages or inflation. |
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3. PeasantsStarted taking the nobles land. (ie anarchy in the countryside.) |
The Provisional Government sent troops to take back the land. This made the peasants very angry
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4. WarThe Provisional Government tried to continue the war. It attacked Austria in June 1917, but after initial successes, the Germans moved in and the Russians were defeated. Soldiers deserted. There was a naval mutiny (ie the war was a disaster.)
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The Provisional Government set up ‘death squads’ to execute deserters. This made things worse – by October 1917, soldiers were deserting, going home, killing the landlords, and taking land. |
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5. BolsheviksLenin returned and published his plans for Russia: the ‘April Theses’ (‘Peace, Bread, Land’; ‘all power to the Soviets’; state ownership of factories and banks). They tried to take over the government during the riots of the ‘July Days’. (ie government under attack) |
The Provisional Government allowed freedom of speech and the press, and released political prisoners After the July Days, the Provisional Government arrested the leaders, but let the Bolshevik Party continue. This HELPED the Bolsheviks.
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6. KornilovGeneral Kornilov tried a right-wing/ pro-Tsar army coup in September 1917. (ie government under attack)
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The Provisional Government had no control of the army and had to ask the Bolsheviks to help it. This made the government seem weak AND made the Bolsheviks popular (they took control of the Soviets). After the revolt Kerensky patched together a 'Directorate' including Kadets and landowners, and dismissed the Duma.
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Source AIt is perhaps surprising that the provisional government should have survived at all, since its members had simply been co-opted from a Duma elected before the war. Anthony Wood, The Russian Revolution (1976)
Source BDefeat worsened the problems created by the war: it undermined the authorities' faith in themselves; it undermined the military, the last line of defence of the government... Kerensky was unable to establish and maintain control in Russia arguably because of his determination to continue the war in the teeth of popular hostility, and because of his inability to provide land for the peasants and food for the population as a whole. Clive Emsley and David Englander, The Russian and German Revolutions (1990)
Source CThe increasingly radical challenge to traditional authority by the peasants, workers and soldiers dictated the course of the revolution and sealed the fate of the Provisional Government… The people needed … a party with a programme that coincided with theirs – this is where the Bolsheviks come in. Graham Darby, The Russian Revolution (1998)
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Consider:3. Study Sources A-C. If you were writing a 6-paragraph essay on 'The Problems of the Provisional Government' based on the six problems/weaknesses suggested on this webpage, in which paragraph would you quote each source? 4. Writing his book on the Russian Revolution, Orlando Figes titled this chapter: 'The Agony of the Provisional Government'. Having studied this webpage, suggest reasons why he chose that title. Do you agree that it is an appropriate title? Think of a better one. 5. Was the Provisional Government 'doomed from the start'?
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