Dual Authority

Question 1

What did the Order No 1 propose?

Answer 1

• All army units to elect a deputy to the Soviet and agree to Petrograd’s Soviet political control.
• Duma to be obeyed only if Petrograd Soviet agreed with their orders
• Weapons controlled by elected soldiers’ committees, not officers.

Question 2

What was the general membership of the Provisional Government?

Answer 2

Cross-section of influential elites and those who favoured a constitutional monarchy (Kadets, moderate Socialists and liberals).

Question 3

Was the Provisional Government intended to be a permanent solution?

Answer 3

No, was only meant to be Provisional until Constituent Assembly elections in the foreseeable future.

Question 4

Who made up the membership of the Petrograd Soviet?

Answer 4

Workers, soldiers and peasants

Question 5

Of the Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet’s members, how many were workers?

Answer 5

7/42

Question 6

Provisional Government proposed which policies which were approved by the Petrograd Soviet?

Answer 6

• Amnesty for Political Prisoners
• Civil Liberties
• Abolition of legal disabilities based on class, religion and nationality
• Freedom to organise trade unions
• Election of Constituent Assembly

Question 7

What were the two governing bodies’ opinions on the war?

Answer 7

Provisional Government wanted to win the war.

Petrograd Soviet wanted to end the war ASAP ‘without annexation’ of Russian territory by the Germans.

Question 8

What did the government announce in April 1917? What reaction did this provoke?

Answer 8

Milyukov announced that the government would continue fighting until the war was won ‘just peace’
Outrage. Milyukov and Guchkov resigned in May under pressure.
Kerensky became PM of Prov Gov

Question 9

Who replaced Prince Lvov in July 1917?

Answer 9

Kerensky, who effectively became Prime Minister.

Question 10

Why didn’t the Provisional Government go ahead with the Constituent Assembly elections in 1917?

Answer 10

It was clear the Social Revolutionaries would win the support of the peasants and the Bolsheviks would win the support of city civilians.

Question 11

Which key policy was promised to be fulfilled when the Constituent Assembly elections went ahead?

Answer 11

Land redistribution to the peasants.