Key debate 2: The Provisional Government

Question 1

In what ways was the Provisinal Government doomed from the start

Answer 1

-From outset P.G shared power with the Petrograd Soviet
-P.G became stuck between making peace with the Germans or carrying on a costly war that undermined its stability
-Set of eight principles allowed tor the growth of the Bolsheviks
-Due to temporary nature of the PG they failed to resolve the peasant land issue irritating peasanrs

Question 2

In what ways was the Kornilov affair more significant to the downfall of the Provisional Government

Answer 2

-Allowed the Bolsheviks to be seen as heroes and were also now armed
-Made evident PG susceptible to being challenged by the military and those wanting to seize power
-Kerensky shown to be a weak leader compared to Lenin
-Allowed the Bolsheviks to gain majorities in the Petrograd and Moscow Soviets

Question 3

What reforms did the PG make

Answer 3

-Poltical prisoners released
-Secret courts ended
-Freedom of the press instigated

Question 4

In what ways was the First World War responsible for the fall of the PG

Answer 4

-War had popular support so demands for peace were on the basis it would be honourable yet unlikely given the strong position of Germany
-War costly in terms of the impact on land labour and capital making the PG invested in winning
-PG very limited in support from Britain and France
-Land distribution and public health ignored as war became priority

Question 5

In what ways was the PG doomed to fail regardless of the war

Answer 5

-People viewed the PG a variation of the tsarist regime with calls for autonomy from poland ukraine and finland
-Workers were in a very strong position by 1917 resulting in the Dual Authority suggesting it was only a matter of time before they took over
-Kerensky was unable to deal with with opposition especially from Kornilov

Question 6

In what ways were minorities responsible for the fall of the PG

Answer 6

-Minorities frustrated that their issues were not being as dressed with the PGs slowness in creating an assembly for minorities
-Minorities were spurred on by successes of others
-Minorities took advantage of the principles of the PG
-A central Rada (council) formed in Ukraine to press for autonomy
-Finland campaigned for their own parliament separate from russian influence