Provisional Government

Question 1

What did General Kornilov try to do in August 1917 when Kerensky became PM?

Answer 1

• Plotted the overthrow of Kerensky’s government
• With the use of Dual Authority the coup was stopped
• Involvement of Petrograd Soviet shown as weakening of P.G- gave revolutionaries window of opportunity.

Question 2

How was the P.G challenged in 1917?

Answer 2

• Petrograd Soviet was dominated by Bolsheviks

- Committee had been established by Russian soldiers/sailors to challenge the P.G’s autonomy

Question 3

What was the October revolution?

Answer 3

• October 1917
• P.G arrested by Bolsheviks on behalf of people
• Kerensky escaped to form an army that fought against Bolsheviks at start of Civil War (1917-22)

Question 4

Why did the P.G fail in terms of:

b) policies
c) Kerensky’s mistakes
d) other factors

Answer 4

b) Decision to continue war created opposition
- No economic policies
- Didn’t give national minorities autonomy
- Failed to legitimise peasant takeover of land
c) Launched new offensive
- Kornilov affair discredited him
- Underestimated strength of Bolsheviks
d) Constituent Assembly not called soon enough
- Kadets alarmed at power of working class so moved further right
- Moderate socialists lost contact with their supporters: workers/peasants.

Question 5

When were they in power?

Answer 5

March-October 1917

Question 6

Summarise their role

Answer 6

• Meant to last until a Constituent Assembly could be elected
• C.A would have represented a major damage in Russian gov- democratic elections/representation
• P.G made up of politicians who had been elected to the 1912 Duma
• Faced with problem of being associated with the ‘old’ guard.

Question 7

What were the 8 principles they stated would underpin their domestic policies- give four

Answer 7

• Amnesty being granted to political prisoners
• Establishment of freedom of speech
• Preparations to be made for C.A
• Abolition of secret police

Question 8

Describe the situation by Spring 1917

Answer 8

• Started implementing policies based on principals
• Political prisoners released
• Dissidents such as Trotsky/Stalin/ Lenin felt it was safe to return to Petrograd
• Re-emergence of political opponents/WW1 proved difficult
• Due to war: economic problems such as inflation dwindling resources, lost overseas markets.

Question 9

What did the P.G PM Prince Lvov do when faced with demonstrations against Russia’s involvement in ww1?

Answer 9

-Formed coalition gov. with members of the Petrograd Soviet (workers council) Known as Dual Authority

Question 10

What was the period of turmoil known as the ‘July Days’?

Answer 10

• In July 1917 Kerensky (Minister of War) launched military offensive against Germany to boost morale/increase support
• Demonstrations increased
• Gov responded with repression (contradicted their supposed liberalism).