Dual Authority Flashcards
What was the Dual authority?
The dual authority was the two powers/parties that had taken control/been given to, whilst Russia established a new clear leader.
Note: Dual authority was temporary
What 2 authorities did it consist of?
Petrograd Soviets
Provisional Government
They both met at Tauride Palace
What were the Petrograd Soviets and what were their aims?
The Petrograd Soviets were a workers council
They had 8k members by March 1917, 800 were workers, remainder were army units.
Chose people for executive committee, smaller group to meet and make decisions w PG
Committee dominated by socialist intellectuals
(Bolsheviks don’t agree with what theyre doing)
What was the Provisional Govt and what was their aims?
Consisted of aristocracy and wealthy intellectuals (mostly Kadets)
They were liberals but split
They wanted a constitutional framework and greater reform
Were here until constituent assembly could be held
Which was more powerful, the Petrograd Soviets and Provisional govt?
IMO, Provisional Govt was more powerful as they had money/wealth in a time of class division and collapsed economy - this was significant pos abdication.
Also Kerensky was Minister of War and then PM of PG, as he was in both authorities. They had an important figure in power
Who was Alexander Kerensky?
He was a well known figure who was in both authorities
Was Minister of War in PG - never been a war officer
Has no political influence
Then PM of PG by 8th July 1917
Who was Lenin and how did he affect the Dual Authority?
Lawyer and leader of Bolshevik Party
Exiled after revolutionary activity came under attention of Okhrana
Founded new revolutionary newspaper Spark
He affected Dual authority through ‘April Thesis’;
All power to Soviets
Promised work, bread and land
Got support of soldiers after failure of Kerensky offensive
Bolsheviks set stone of idea anti-war
What undermined PG?
Kornilov coup and Summer/Kerensky offensive (a military offensive attack to achieve a push forward + victory to boost morale. It failed and Russia got pushed back further along w 58k casualties and 40k desertions).
However their rep started to build back up after crushing July Days demonstrations
