Provisional Government - Nature of Government

Question 1

The two debates surrounding the Provisional Government’s ‘nature of government’:

1. Were they ____ from the start?
2. Were they overthrown because of ____ skill or the PG’s own ____?

Answer 1

The two debates surrounding the Provisional Government’s ‘nature of government’:

1. Were they doomed from the start?
2. Were they overthrown because of Bolshevik skill or the PG’s own mistakes?

Question 2

‘Doomed’ key arguments:

1. Position of the ____ - had control over ____ and the ____ with ‘Soviet Order ____ _’
2. ____ of Government - worker who cried ‘who ____ you?’, made up of ____-class/ ____ such as Prince ____, resignation of factory-owner favourites ____ and ____ in ____, general in____ and inability to work with ____, _____ the SR.
3. ____ Distribution - in July 1917 there were ___ land seizures, they supported the ____ by looking to ____ their property from anarchy.
4. ____ Principles - allowed ____ to flourish, abolition of ____ units/ ____, loss of ____.

Answer 2

‘Doomed’ key arguments:

1. Position of the Soviet - had control over industry and the army with ‘Soviet Order No. 1’
2. Makeup of Government - worker who cried ‘who elected you?’, made up of middle-class/ nobility such as Prince Lvov, resignation of factory-owner favourites Milyukov and Guchkov in April, general inexperience and inability to work with Socialists, Kerensky the SR.
3. Land Distribution - in July 1917 there were 237 land seizures, they supported the landowners by looking to protecting their property from anarchy.
4. Liberal Principles - allowed enemies to flourish, abolition of police units/ Okhrana, loss of control.

Question 3

‘Not doomed’ key arguements:

1. Initial ____ with the Soviet - continuation of the ____ the key reason for splits, ____ join the Provisional Government, _____ an SR.
2. Russian ____ in March Revolution - hopes for the ____ and ____ principles. ____ ____ is set up.
3. ____ Affair is key issue - not doomed UNTIL ____ returns to overthrow Soviet. ‘July Days’ ____ Bolsheviks, but the ____ Affair ____ the PG as Bolsheviks are ____ and heroically ____ against coup.

Answer 3

‘Not doomed’ key arguements:

1. Initial cooperation with the Soviet - continuation of the war the key reason for splits, socialists join the Provisional Government, Kerensky an SR.
2. Russian Unity in March Revolution - hopes for the future and liberal principles. Constituent Assembly is set up.
3. Kornilov Affair is key issue - not doomed UNTIL Kornilov returns to overthrow Soviet. ‘July Days’ repress Bolsheviks, but the Kornilov Affair dooms the PG as Bolsheviks are armed and heroically defend against coup.

Question 4

‘Bolshevik skill’ key arguments:

1. ____’s return and introduction of the ‘____ Theses’ offering simple solutions such as ‘____, ____, ____’ to cover all the ____ ____ of workers and peasants.
2. Bolshevik refusal to work with ____ in ____ allowed them to be the only viable ____ and avoid being linked to the Provisional Government after ____ takes leadership.
3. ____ of the revolution down to Lenin’s ____ and Trotsky’s superb ____ ____ of the ____. Took advantage of the post-____ situation.

Answer 4

‘Bolshevik skill’ key arguments:

1. Lenin’s return and introduction of the ‘April Theses’ offering simple solutions such as ‘Peace, Bread, Land’ to cover all the major concerns of workers and peasants.
2. Bolshevik refusal to work with moderates in Soviet allowed them to be the only viable alternative and avoid being linked to the Provisional Government after Kornilov takes leadership.
3. Timing of the revolution down to Lenin’s insistence and Trotsky’s superb strategic planning of the MRC. Took advantage of the post-Kornilov situation.

Question 5

‘Provisional Government mistakes’ key arguments:

1. Repression of the ‘____ Days’ (several ____ deaths) and Peasant ____ ____ (____ Brigades) made them appear ____.
2. Kerensky moved into the ____ ____, losing support as he seemed ____.
3. Did not ____ key supporters, seeming to side with ____ and ____ ____ over ____ and ____.
4. Failure to prevent ____’s return.
5. Rigid insistence on ‘8 Liberal Principles’ at time of ____ allowed ____ to flourish.
6. Kerensky’s ____ of the Bolsheviks during the ____ Affair was disastrous.
7. Inability to decide on ____ ____ and the Kadet’s and Octobrist’s prioritising ____ prevented meaningful reform that could have averted ____.

Answer 5

‘Provisional Government mistakes’ key arguments:

1. Repression of the ‘July Days’ (several hundred deaths) and Peasant Land Seizures (Punishment Brigades) made them appear Tsarist.
2. Did not appease key supporters, seeming to side with landowners and factory owners over peasants and workers.
3. Kerensky moved into the Winter Palace, losing support as he seemed Tsarist.
4. Failure to prevent Lenin’s return.
5. Rigid insistence on ‘8 Liberal Principles’ at time of war allowed opposition to flourish.
6. Kerensky’s arming of the Bolsheviks during the Kornilov Affair was disastrous.
7. Inability to decide on key reforms and the Kadet’s and Octobrist’s prioritising property prevented meaningful reform that could have averted revolution.