Dual Authority + inherited problems for the PG Flashcards
What was dual authority?
Temporary decision makers being from 2 separate groups - PS and PG- they both ruled the country in the absence of a constitutional assembly.
What was the PG?
Was made up of leading figures from the Kadets ( and other liberal parties. The leader was Prince Lvov (March – July 1917) and then Alexander Kerensky (July – October 1917).
Its role was to run the country until a constituent assembly had been elected and the Provisional Government had been chosen by a committee of the Duma; it had not been elected by the people.
The Provisional Government (PG) was formed two days after the Petrograd Soviet (PS) in February 1917.
What was the PS?
Made up of Workers’ and soldiers’ representatives + socialist intellectuals, mainly Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries.
The chairman of the executive committee was Chkheidze. Socialist intellectuals formed leadership of the Soviet (7/42 were workers)
Its role was to protect the interests of the working classes and soldiers.
Formed 2 days before the PG.
The PS consisted of workers, soldiers, and socialists, advocating for workers’ rights, land reforms, and ending the war, while the PG favoured moderate reforms and continued Russia’s involvement in WWI.
Who was Alexander Kerensky?
Alexander Kerensky was a member of both bodies and provided the main line of communication between the line.
Why was Prince Lvov nominated as the new prime minister? What was the significance of this appointment?
He had headed the union of the Zemstva (established in 1864 by Tsar Alexander II, were local self-governments to modernise and decentralise administration.) and had been widely praised for his efforts, providing support and medical help for soldiers at the front. He was also the monarch’s son - people were upset that the monarchy would no longer be in power - keep people happy.
Why were factories asked to elect delegates? And what is the difference between the PG and PS?
The PS was the government in focus of working-class aspirations. Factories were asked to elect delegates to attend meetings to represent the factory workers- have a say and create rights.
What was Order No.1 and why was it needed?
It was the order that each regiment had to elect committees that would send representatives to the soviet. It also stated to only obey the orders of the PG it agrees with the Petrograd soviet, undermiming the authority of the Provisional Government. - March 1st 1917
Why did the soviet not take power?
1)Leaders did not think it was the right time - followed Marxist Theory - needed to go through a bourgeois revolution first.
2)Wanted to avoid civil war and counter-revolutionary groups. Needed to keeps the army and middle classes on their side The Russian high command kept their troops outside of the city as they thought the Duma (Solid-Middle-class citizens) were in control of the situation. If they thought revolutionaries were taking over then they were in control.
4)Didn’t know how to control the masses
5) Soviet leaders wanted to wait for ‘Prime Opportunity
Problems facing the PG
Economic:
Food shortages, soldiers seizing land from nobility (2.5 mi conscripted in 1917), Agreed to additional loans from GB and France to fund the war effort.
Political:
PG was not an elected body - not legitimate- PS had 3000 elected members, Dual Authority undermined its power, national minorities demanded independence, Lenin’s return and Bolshevik propaganda increased political instability.
Soviet Order Number One challenged the PG’s authority over the military.
Military:
Soviet Order Number One challenged the PG’s authority over the military, Defeats in WWI weakened morale and shifted war responsibility to the PG, Mass desertions from the army.
Peasants looted landowners’ properties in rural areas, A major military defeat in June 1917 led to 60,000 deaths and further desertions.
Soviet “Resolutions”
1) Elected representatives from all ranks should represent in the PS
2) Any company without and elected representative has a time limit to elect one
3)Orders of the military commision of the State Duma only executed if they agree with the PS.
4)All weapons must stay with the company and battalion groups, not given to officers, even if they ask.
5)Strict military discipline doesn’t have to be conformed to when off duty
6)Existing titles abolished and replaced with new ones.
Was the PG doomed from the start?
1)Army disintegration: The army collapsed after the June-July offensive. Soldiers deserted, commandeered trains, and caused chaos. Officers were killed or attacked. - Army was backbone of society, army responsible for disarray and
2)PG liberals were moving right: focused on restoring property, military discipline, law, and order.
3)Economic crisis: Food shortages, factory closures, and rising unemployment in cities.
4)Rural control breakdown: Land seizures and violence increased; landowners attacked.
5)Support for the Bolsheviks was rising: Workers and soldiers and sailors radicalised, demanding reforms and better standards.
6)Increasing lawlessness in cities-
7)Soviet decline: Moderate socialists lost touch with workers and soldiers, lacked leadership
How was the war an issue for the PG?
Issues:
Army= majority conservative, needs to maintain high status, loyal to the tsar, needs to be properly funded +equiped for war, Ordinary conscripted soldiers wanted war to end, order no.1 meant PG aren’t in control of railway services.
How the PG dealt with it:
Minister of war hoped to make more territorial gains if the allies won- in particular after straits in the black sea. Outraged socialists were committed to a defensive war only. Milyukov was forced to resign. However PG continued the war as they relied on investments from Britain and France, and were afraid of Germany’s demands if Russia asked for peace.
analysis - in terms of war they were the same as the Tsar. Couldn’t get out of the war as they relied on the allies. Apr 1917 decision to continue war: soldiers seized land when they returned home. Also stipulation- wanted to continue war but also land from Turkey.
How was the land an issue for the PG?
issues:
unrest in the countryside, peasants demanded land - collapse of central authority meant no one could stop them. Wanted land reforms but Liberals didn’t want to hand land over.
How PG dealt with it:
Gov unwilling to allow land redistribution but organised Peasant soviets (however these were ineffective)Peasants responded by seizing more land and resources - PG did nothing and waited for the constituent assembly
Analysis:
unable to deal with problems - weak.
Land grabs caused soldiers to dissent.
How were national minority demands issues for the PG?
Issues:
Finns and Poles didn’t want persecution and wanted to practice islam, so demanded independence.Lead to the causasus region - in particular Ukraine- into wanting independence too.
How PG dealt with it:
Ignored it as believed it was the 1st step towards the break up of Russia. Believed to be a great power they needed to be one centrally governed state.They removed the okhrana and abolished the death penalty (March 12, 1917) as well as pardoning all religious crimes.
Analysis:
Did not help. Parts of their state opposed them - Ukraine had valuable farmland
How was the Economic Problem an issue for the PG?
Issues:
Food shortages, high prices, inflation, work conditions worsened, near railway collapse, factories shut down leading to 10000 unemployed, strikes increased, demands for price controls and actions against profiteers.
How PG dealt with it:
Unable to do anything about the food shortages, PG liberals were pressured by industrialists and refused to interfere or fix prices. Moderate socialist leaders struggled to meet the needs of their workers supporters. Payed double for giving grain- no one had it- sent troops to the countryside to steal grain, making peasants hostile.
Analysis:
inherited existing problems - only got worse without interference. Lost support and gained new opposition.
Unrest spread due to new freedom of speech as Peasants didn’t want them to give grain.