Provisional Government

Question 1

What are the different views on the statement that “the provisional government was doomed to fail”

Answer 1

It was doomed from the start but did not help itself with its poor decision making
The new government was successful in achieving its main aim of preparing elections to a new constituent assembly
It was not the failings of the Provisional Government but the determination of the Bolsheviks that led to the October revolution

Question 2

What was the Petrograd Soviet’s view on war?

Answer 2

Demanded “peace without annexations or indemnities” and also “revolutionary defensism”

Question 3

What was the Provisional Government’s view on the war?

Answer 3

The Provisional Government wanted to push on to “decisive victory”

Question 4

Why could the Petrograd Soviet claim to be more representative than the Provisional Government?

Answer 4

As the news of the Tsar’s fall spread, soviets were elected all over Russia. Many of these later sent representatives to the Petrograd Soviet

Question 5

What did the Provisional Government do to solve the land question?

Answer 5

The land question had been central to Russian politics for many years. Now the revolution had occurred, the peasants expected their land. The government set up a committee to advise on future policies. This committee recommended that only the expected Constituent Assembly could make policy

Question 6

What is “revolutionary defensism”

Answer 6

A war of defence to preserve the Revolution’s gains but without costly attacks on the enemy.

Question 7

How did the Provisional Government go against “revolutionary defensism” on the 27th March?

Answer 7

At first they agreed a similar “Declaration of War Aims” However, Miliukov, Foreign Minister, also promised the Allies that the government would honour its promises to them to continue the war to decisive victory.

Question 8

What happened to Miliukov?

Answer 8

After promising the Allies to continue the war until “decisive victory” there was a storm of protest in Petrograd. Angry demonstrations of armed soldiers and workers fought with supporters of the war on the streets of the capital.
The threat of open civil war forced Miliukov to resign
Prince Lvov set up a new government with six members of the Soviet

Question 9

What were the impacts of Prince Lvov’s new government?

Answer 9

The entry of Mensheviks and SRs, such as Kerensky, into the Cabinet meant that it gave them a share of responsibility for righting the problems of Russia

Question 10

What were the changes to government during the July days?

Answer 10

On 3rd July the Kadet Minister resigned, including Prince Lvov. 8th July Kerensky became Prime Minister

Question 11

What figure shows mounting workers discontent?

Answer 11

Between March and July 568 factories employing 104,000 workers shut down operations.
The number of metalworkers who registered with a union as unemployed rose from 37.4 per day in July to 71.3 in October

Question 12

What was the result of the Kornilov Coup for the Bolsheviks party?

Answer 12

Weaknesses of the Provisional Government were evident. Workers turned to the one party who had refused to co-operate with the failed regime. In the new soviet elections in August and September the Bolsheviks won control of both the Petrograd and Moscow soviets

Question 13

What opposition was there inside the Bolshevik party against the October Uprising?

Answer 13

Two prominent Bolsheviks, Kamenev and Zinoviev, disapproved of the panned uprising and wrote an article in a socialist newspaper warning of its coming

Question 14

What evidence is there to suggest that the October Revolution was not highly planned?

Answer 14

There were few Red Guards involved and the Aurora fired blanks because it had no live ammunition on board

Question 15

What evidence suggests that the Bolsheviks did not exploit the workers?

Answer 15

Activity of workers, soldiers and sailors in Petrograd and Kronstadt in 1917 when they set up their own organisations to push for reforms

Question 16

Why was the Kornilov Affair significant?

Answer 16

The Bolsheviks were viewed as heroes for organising the protection on Petrograd against Kornilov.
The Soviet were armed by the Prov Gov
It was evident the Prov Gov was susceptible to being challenged by the military and therefore others who might want to use force to seize power
The Kornilov affair showed Kerensky to be weak compared to Lenin
Afterwards the Bolsheviks quickly gained more support so that by early September they had majorities in both the Moscow and Petrograd Soviets

Question 17

What reforms did the Provisional Government make?

Answer 17

Political prisoners were released
Secret courts were ended
Freedom of press was instigated
Grant of an 8 hour working day

Question 18

What evidence is there to show the Provisional Government was unwilling to make reforms?

Answer 18

Land distribution issues, were not addressed.
Workers committees were clamped down on, which seemed to contradict the new liberal stance of the Provisional Government

Question 19

How did the War hinder the progress of the Provisional Government?

Answer 19

The war had popular support- demands for withdrawal and peace were made on the basis that this would be honourable and unconditional. It was unlikely Germany would agree to such a deal given its strong military position
The war was costly in terms of land, labour and capital. The Prov Gov also felt committed to continuing the war given that much had already been invested into it
The Provisional Government had limited support from France and Britain

Question 20

What is the counterargument against the war causing the Provisional Government’s downfall?

Answer 20

The people of Russia already viewed the Prov Gov as a variation of the tsarist regime.
The new government was struggling to contain demands for autonomy from Ukraine and Poland and Finland
Workers had already organised and campaigned for economic and social change before the war. By 1917, the soviets were in such a strong position that the Provisional Government was compelled to join with them to create Dual Authority

Question 21

How were the minorities a threat to the Provisional Government?

Answer 21

They became frustrated with their needs not being addressed- the Provisional Government’s slowness in creating an Assembly in which minorities could express their views caused resentment and calls for autonomy
They took advantage of the “principles” adopted by the Provisional Government on which administration of the state was to be based (particularly the abolition of police units and provincial governors)

Question 22

What did the minorities do to start to disintegrate the Empire?

Answer 22

A Central Rada (Council) was formed in Kiev in the Ukraine; its main aim was to press for the Ukraine to have autonomy.
Similarly in Finland, politicians campaigned for the establishment of their own Sejm (parliament) free from the influence of central Russian government

Question 23

Under the rule of the Provisional Government what happened in the Transcaucasia?

Answer 23

Demands for self-rule were met with the formation of a Special Transcaucasian Committee.
Although they were often undermined with the formation of local soviets