Russia PG Flashcards
Who made up the Provisional Government?
- Middle Class
- Upper Middle Class
- Handful of aristocratic members of the Cadet or Octoberist Parties led by Prince Lvov
What were the aims of the Provisional Government?
- To create a constitution and democratic system of government
- Survival depended on how they dealt with immediate problems facing Russia (war effort, food shortages).
What were the political problems facing the PG?
- They were worried about the men and people who still supported the Tsar
- The Petrograd Soviets were another power and it had military and workers support, this undermined the PG’s power as it could only carry out decisions if the Soviets agreed and the Soviets controlled the armed forces in Petrograd.
What were the military problems facing the PG?
- Decided to continue with war, which meant that domestic shortages would only continue
- BUT by not admitting defeat to the Germans, Russia were no humiliated, and kept the Allies Britain and France and Russia also knew that Germany would make them pay a very heavy price if they tired to make peace and Russia could not necessarily afford that. - The war continued which meant deserters also increased and food and fuel shortages which would only mean that the people were more angry and they need to get more army and the resources are being drained (people may think that the provisional government do not support them).
What were the economic problems facing the PG?
- The PG would not give the peasants land
- Plus if there was free-for-all land the PG feared that many of the men at the front would come back to grab their share, which would mean less people at the front and the army would disintegrate, and so the army would definitely loose, not all would get land, and so peasants would be angry = strikes
- BUT in 1917 peasants began taking land for themselves whatever the government said which undermined the PG’s power
Overall what were the problems facing the provisional government?
- Continuing defeats of WW1
- Not an elected representative body
- Peasants stealing form their landlords and this was far away from Petrograd so hard to control
- Soliders deserting
- Massive food shortages
- Soldiers and workers were setting up Soviets in cities
- Demand for independence from national minorities e.g. Finns
Describe the Petrograd Soviet of Soldiers and Workers Deputies
- An elected body of around 3,000 radicles (March/Summer 1917) and was a rival source of power to PG.
- TPS issues order number 1 which states that all armed units were subordinate to the Soviet and only orders from the PG endorsed by the Soviet were valid
Why did the PG grant freedom of religion?
-The church was Pro-Tsar and so they wanted to show how they were different
PROBLEM:
-Many were still orthodox and so could find this offensive
-The church still had power so don’t want to anger
-Less united Russia
Why did the PG abolish the Secret Police?
-To show they were on the people’s side and away from the Tsar
PROBLEM:
-Easier for opposition groups to rise and overthrow PG
Why did the PG guarantee free speech?
-Allowed people to feel that they had a say, unlike with Tsar
PROBLEM:
- Many had different views and could criticise the government which could lessen the power of the PG
Why did the PG introduce the 8-hour working day?
-The peasants and workers had previously striked for it (in OM)
-Please peasants
PROBLEM:
-Production decreases which would have a negative effect on economy and war effort and arguably people had more time to make arguments against PG
Why did the PG recognise trade unions?
-Helps people
PROBLEM:
-Creates potential opposition groups
-Lead to more strikes
Why did the PG continue with the war?
- To not humiliate Russia
- Keep good relations and allies with BR and FR
- Would have to pay too much to Germans if tried to make peace
What were the problems of continuing the war?
- 1000s of soldiers began deserting including many peasants who had been conscripted. Illegal land seizures were taking place in the countryside and many soldiers did not want to be denied their share
- Although advances were made the Russian force suffered around 100,000 casualties from March -November
- Kerensky’s June offensive was a particular disaster
- Normal people still faced food and fuel shortages and peasants would continue to be conscripted
- Fuel and railway continued to provide for war effort rather than heating and transportation of food
Describe the return of Lenin
- April 1917, exiled Bolshevik leader retuned with the Germans help to Russia soon after March revolution (if Germans cause uprising in Russia Germany may do better in war)
- He set out Bolshevik programme in his April Thesis, Lenin’s popular slogan was the promise of bread peace and land
- Support for the Bolshevik party increased massively as Lenin called for a radial solution to Russia’s problems instead of the PG’s moderate policies