Provisional Government Debates Flashcards
Key debate 1: Yes, Doomed
-It lacked legitimacy, formed by non elected bodies from progressive block.
-too many challenges from opponents: Kornilov affair, little support from army, determination of Bolsheviks to seize power, shared authority with petrogad soviet
-hesitant to reform, lyvov wanted to wait for permenant Gov
-Decision to remain in war was unpopular
-this led to army unrest, 365,000 deserters
-established commitees to rep workers, didnt change anything, 175,000 striked
-Kornelov revolt: Bolshevik’s viewed as heroes, susceptible to being challenged by army
debate 1, no wasnt doomed from start.
-successfullly prepared country for assembly, for PM to vote
-Only time country was united in some sense
-werent from beginning, they made mistakes as time went on.
-didnt take action at april theses, no action to improve
-as time went on they became doomed, not from beginning.
Key debate 2: yes, reluctant
-intended on a constituent assembly, never got round to implementing.
-without elections it was hard to carry out reforms.
-Lvov didnt want to do major reforms without a permenant gov.
-policy of continuing war, halted and worsened previous issues.
-Workers committes promised, not acted upon, 175,000 striked
-land commitees also, peasants impatiant and siezed land.
-left all these issues as they were waiting for an election
key debate 2: not reluctant, just facing challenges
-people already revolting
-conditions worsened by war
-hands slightly tied with petrogad soviet, had to work with them
-didnt want to reform but aided political change
-war was extremely costly and time consuming, took most of their focus
Key debate 3: yes, WW1 responsible
-if they pulled out then maybe they would have succeeded
-maybe july days, Kornilov wouldnt have happened, meant lenin would have had no Strength suggesting peace.
-the war hindered the progress
-there was popular support for withdrawal.
-costly in terms of land, labour and capital
-limited support from allies
-problems of land and ill health due to urbanisation ignored, WW1 prioritised.
-PG formed late into war, when much of the damage and impact had already occured.
Key debate 4: no, WW1 not responsible
-PG already viewed by russian people as simply a variation of the tsarist regime.
-empire in danger of disintergrating before WW1
-Gov struggled to contain demands for autonomy from Finland, Poland and Ukraine.
-Workers already campaigning for change 175,000 striked
-By 1917 soviets were in such a strong position , PG compelled to join with then to create dual authority
-Kerenskys leadership
-Not trusted by workers and peasants
-multitude of pressures over a long perood of time, not ignoring the war but suggesting it simply enhanced issues already present.
debate 4: yes, oposition from nationalities was the reason
-focused maintly, on urban, political and social issues rather than foreign relations
-minorities frustrated that wants and needs werent being adressed.
-minorities influenced by success of sailors and workers in their acts against the PG
-Central RADA formed in Ukraine, main aim was more autonomy for Ukraine
-In finland, politicians campaigned for their own parliament, free from russian influence
debate 4: no, didn’t ignore nationalitues
-demands for self rule in trans caucaus met somewhat by establishment of a special trans cacausian committee)
-Rada and parliament in finland said they would begin to work with economic problems, becomming unofficial opposition in the PG.
-not ignoring, dealing with as they didnt want to undermine independence.
