The Establishment of the Provisional Government Flashcards
Where did the Provisional Government’s power come from?
By the fact it was drawn from the Duma (which had been legally elected)
What was the Provisional Governments role + how long for?
Temporary role, its goal was to govern Russia until a new constitution could be established by a democratically elected Constituent Assembly
WHO was in the Provisional Government when it was formed?
New Prime Minister = Prince Lvov.
Consisted of leading Liberals who had favoured a constitutional monarchy.
One social minister (Kerensky).
And influential elites
Which liberals were the most common in the Provisional government?
Kadets were the strongest group
Why did Kerensky play an important role in government during dual power?
He was both a member of the Provisional Government and a member of the Soviet - able to help the two bodies collaborate.
Who did the Petrograd Soviet represent and what were their aims?
Represented the working people and soldiers of Petrograd.
Aimed to defend the rights of the workers under the new ‘bourgeois government’
Who elected the Soviet?
Regularly elected directly by the workers and soldiers of Petrograd.
Meaning Soviet deputies genuinely represented those who elected them
In what sense was the Soviet more powerful than the PG?
Due to the support of the people it was able to control the local garrisons, factories and railways of Petrograd
When was the Soviet established and why?
27th February 1917 to coordinate striking workers across Petrograd
In what 2 ways was it similar to the St Petersburg Soviet of 1905?
Elected directly by Petrograd factory workers and soldiers.
Delegates from factories received the same pay as ordinary workers.
What was the significant difference between the 1905 Soviet and the 1917 one?
The role of intellectuals :
1905 intellectual members of radical parties, allowed to advise soviet.
1917- allowed to become members.
What were four of the major problems the PG faced initially in 1917?
- Government was committed to ‘revolutionary defensism’ (continuing war to defend revolution)
- Continuing meant facing same economic problems that ruined the Tsar
- Workers wanted higher pay and shorter hours
- Peasants wanted to own the land they worked
What part of the establishment of the PG made their power limited?
It wasn’t elected so didn’t represent the working class/ peasants and therefore depended on the soviet to carry out its policies
When was the PG declared?
2nd March
Which parties were in the soviets?
How many members were actual workers in it’s executive committee?
Dominated by Mensheviks and non-socialist intellectuals.
Petrograd soviet = radical socialist intellectuals, Mensheviks, SR’s and also a small number of Bolsheviks.
Of it’s execute committee only 7 of the first 42 committee members were workers themselves.
What did soldiers do on March 1st?
Went to the soviet and demanded representation where they gained order number one
What was order number one?
Gave soldiers representation and gave their committees control of all weapons- stated soldiers only obey PG if the Soviet agreed
What were some of the first measures taken by the PG?
2 against old regime, 2 looking forward
Tsarist ministers and officials arrested and imprisoned.
Okhrana were disbanded.
PG promised Constituent Assembly to future government.
First decree.
What was the first decree?
First decree = granting amnesty for political and religious prisoners, freedom of press, religion and free speech, death penalty abolished and discrimination = illegal.
What were five key issues in March 1917?
Economy - how to Improve?
Social reform - how quickly and how far?
War - peace (loss of territory), offensive or defensive?
Land - taken off nobility to divide among selves or government do it in a controlled way?
National minorities - independence?
What were the main policies of the liberals (Kadets) in March 1917?
Continue war.
Solve land problem using Constituent Assembly.
Not to break up the empire.
Delay Constituent Assembly elections as its unlikely they would be elected
What were the main policies of the socialists?
Co-operate with PG to ensure interests of the people.
Fight defensive war.
Leave land issue to Constituent.
Offer more self-government to non-Russians
Why didn’t the Soviet just take power?
Wanted to avoid civil war and counter revolution
Lacked the confidence needed to assume direct control.
Negotiations by Kerensky = an agreement to work together was reached.
What did the majority of workers, soldiers and peasants regard the PG as compared to Petrograd Soviet?
A self-appointed committee of the wealthy, tainted by their previous associations with tsardom.
They viewed the Petrograd soviet as more democratic.
