The Fall of Kerensky

Question 1

Who was the Progressive Committee and who did they become?

Answer 1

A group of deputies who disobeyed the Tsar’s dissolution of the Duma. They eventually renamed to be the Provisional Government.

Question 2

Who were the Mensheviks?

Answer 2

A socialist political party

Question 3

What did the Mensheviks form?

Answer 3

The Petrograd Soviet of Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Workers’ Deputies

Question 4

What did the provisional government initially promise?

Answer 4

A Constituent Assembly, but in the meantime took full responsibility of governing the nation.

Question 5

What was the issue with the PG from the beginning?

Answer 5

It was not a body voted into power by the people; it just assumed leadership.

Question 6

Who was the PG made up of? (socially)

Answer 6

Middle class men.

Question 7

Who was the Petrograd Soviet made up of? (socially)

Answer 7

Soldiers and workers.

Question 8

Where were the PG and Petrograd Soviet set up?

Answer 8

The Winter Palace/The Tauride Palace.

Question 9

Who took ‘dual authority’?

Answer 9

The PG and Petrograd Soviet from within The Tauride Palace.

Question 10

Why did the PG and Petrograd Soviet form a dual authority?

Answer 10

They were dependent on each other; one could not rule without the other. The PG were the politics and the Petrograd Soviet were the force.

Question 11

Who was the only member of both the PG and Petrograd Soviet?

Answer 11

Kerensky

Question 12

Who led the PG?

Answer 12

Prince Lvov

Question 13

What was the Petrograde Soviet Order No. 1? When was it issued?

Answer 13

Meant that soldiers only recognised the authority of the Soviet - dismissing the orders of the Duma unless approved by the Soviet.

Question 14

How did the Soviet Order No. 1 affect the PG.

Answer 14

It weakened their authority and made them vulnerable.

Question 15

What directions did the PG and Petrograd Soviet go after the Soviet Order No.1?

Answer 15

The PG became more conservative, whilst the Soviet became more radical.

Question 16

How did the PG deal with the peasants’ demands for land restoration?

Answer 16

They ignored it.

Question 17

How was the PG not so democratic?

Answer 17

They did not hold public votes on matters but only promised to. One was to be held in November but it never happened.

Question 18

Who was George Lvov?

Answer 18

He was a popular, respected figure for his support and providing aid for soldiers during the war. He resigned from the PG after the July Days.

Question 19

Who was Alexander Kerensky?

Answer 19

A moderate socialist who was leader of the Socialist Revolutionaries. He was a member of both the PG and the Soviet.

Question 20

Which roles did Kerensky have in the PG?

Answer 20

Minister of Justice (March-April), Minister of War (May-August) and Minister-President (July-October)

Question 21

What was Miliukov’s policy? How was this a problem for the PG?

Answer 21

The policy of continuing the war caused widespread street demonstrations, protesting and armed clashes. This is known as the April Crisis.

Question 22

What was the April Crisis?

Answer 22

Demonstrators and protestors - and subsequent armed clashing - who were outraged by Miliukov’s policy about continuing the war.

Question 23

What was the attempted coalition between the PG and Soviet for?

Answer 23

Soviet leaders were brought into the PG to soften the air between groups. The coalition was made up of 6 socialists and 16 nonsocialists. The coalition failed.

Question 24

Who was Kornilov?

Answer 24

The Supreme Commander-In-Chief of the Russian Army from July 1917. He was a harsh, authoritarian officer. He believed force was needed to restore order and peace both domestically and combative.

Question 25

Why did Kerensky take action against Kornilov?

Answer 25

There were fears of Kornilov’s likelihood to overthrow the PG and bring back the old order. Kerensky panicked at backed Bolshevik and other revolutionary unions to support the government.

Question 26

Who did Kerensky turn to amidst fears of Kornilov’s authoritarian fears?

Answer 26

The Bolsheviks.

Question 27

How did Kerensky’s use of revolutionaries to bring down Kornilov affect the former’s reputation.

Answer 27

It ruined it.

Question 28

What happened on the 25th September?

Answer 28

A third coalition was formed under Kerensky. Trotsky became chairman of Soviet.

Question 29

When was the third coalition formed (under Kerensky)?

Answer 29

25th September 1917

Question 30

What made the October Revolution inevitable?

Answer 30

The incapability and incompetence of the PG.

Question 31

What caused a power vaccum that enabled the October Revolution?

Answer 31

The incapability of the PG.

Question 32

Why did panic spread in October?

Answer 32

Rumour spread that the PG was abandoning Petrograd - to advancing Germans - for Moscow.

Question 33

As the MRC had control over Petrograd, where were Kerensky’s ministers of the PG?

Answer 33

The Winter Palace.

Question 34

When was the Winter Palace, with Kerensky’s ministers inside, surrendered to the Bolsheviks.

Answer 34

25 October