The Provisional Government and its opponents, February-October 1917 Flashcards
Why was a Provisional Government put in place in Russia?
- The Provisional Government was set up in 1917 to replace the tsar after his abdication and lead Russia until a new government was decided.
What was the immediate way forward after the Tsar’s abdication?
- Elections for the Constituent Assembly
How were elections for the constituent assembly different from elections under the Tsar and Duma?
- The elections were going to be fully democratic, with voting taking place in secret and universal suffrage.
What would happen until the Constituent Assembly had completed its work?
- Russia’s affairs would be administered by a Provisional Government
What was the intial and following Bolshevik response to the early days of the Provisional Government?
- The bolsheviks under Kamenev were endorsing the requests of the Kadets and Octoberists, even offering a collaberation between the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.
- Lenin’s arrival ended this endorsement as he made an immediate bid for power.
What was ‘dual power’?
- The Provisional Government ruled subject to the approval of the Petrograd Soviet.
Why was there a lack of cohesion between the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet?
- The Provisional Government consisted of a moderate classed majority whilst the Petrograd Soviet consisted of left wing members.
Who was the main driver of the Provisional Government?
- Paul Milyukov, the Kadet leader, alongside Octoberists headed by Guchkov.
What were the characteristics of Alexander Kerensky?
- Kerensky was a member of the Petrograd Soviet whilst working with the Provisional Government.
- He was eloquent and charismatic.
What was the main reason the Provisional Government had no authority to rule?
- Unlike the Petrograd Soviet, the Provisional Government had no control over the Petrograd garrison, a powerful military force.
What were the 2 main reasons why the Petrograd Soviet had more control than the Provisional Government?
1) The Petrograd Soviet was in full control of the capital because it was supported by key workers and the city’s army garrison.
2) The loyalty of railway and postal workers to the Petrograd Soviet ensured that it controlled the city’s links to the outside world.
How many Petrograd garrison troops were placed in the city?
- 180,000.
Why is the term ‘dual power’ misleading?
- It implies that power was shared between the PG and PS, however, this was not the case as the Petrograd Soviet retained more power.
How was the Petrograd Soviet elected?
- By the city’s factory workers and the soliders of the Petrograd garrison.
What proportion of the Petrograd Soviet accounted for the army garrison?
- Two-thirds of its 3000 members were soldier representatives.
Why were the Petrograd Soviet Elections corrupt?
- very few set procedures
- ministers rarely served their term
- electors could recall and replace ministers at any time.
What was the executive committee?
- An inner group of seasoned politicians who decided on policies of the Petrograd Soviet.
Who was the most prominent member of the Executive Committee?
- Irakli Tsereteli
How did the Petrograd Soviet workers see their role at the beginning?
- Saw the role as temporary and relatively limited.
- They would protect the interests of workers and soldiers until the deliberations of the Constituent Assembly led to the establishment of the democratic Russian body.
How did the Petrograd Soviet become more influential as time progressed?
- The Petrograd Soviet assumed command of the Petrograd army garrison and took over responsibility for administering the capital’s affairs, effectively becoming a local government body.
What were 6 early reforms made by the Provisional Government?
1) An amnesty for all political prisoners including those detained for terrorist offences.
2) The abolition of capital punishment
3) Unrestricted freedom of speech and assembly.
4) Equal rights for all citizens regardless of class, religion and nationality.
5) Dissolution of Tsarist police forces and their replacement by local militias with elected officers.
6) The election of zemstva and town councils on a democratic basis.
What was revolutionary defencism?
- The principle that Russia would continue to defend itself in the war but not make territorial gains or involve themselves in peace with Germany.
Which group initiated revolutionary defencism and why?
- The Petrograd Soviet were becoming more confident so released the defencism document due to fear of the consequences of military defeat.
What were Milyukov’s views on the war?
- He wanted Russia to fight on until Germany was defeated.
- He had eyes on a prize of the allied victory which promised Russian control of the seaway between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.
What happened during the Milyukov crisis?
- PG released the Declaration of War Aims which affirmed its commitment to the war without forcibly seizing territory.
- Petrograd Soviet agreed but insisted that the Declaration was sent to the allies.
- Milyukov added a private telegram which distanced himself from revolutionary defencism.
- Telegram was released to the press.
- Outroar led to Milyukov’s resignation.
What happened immediately after the Milyukov Crisis?
- Prince Lvov appealed to the Soviet leadership to take control of the Provisional Government.
- Milyukov resigned promptly.
Which leader took control of the Provisional Government?
- Tsereteli
What 4 reasons was the Milyukov crisis significant?
1) Demonstrated the extent of soviet power against the Provisional Government.
2) Ended the optimistic feeling in Russia after the Tsar’s resignation.
3) ‘Dual Power’ was ended.
4) Consigned Russia’s liberals to the dustbin of history.
Where was Lenin during the February Revolution?
- Lenin was exhiled in Switzerland.
Why did the German Government want Lenin to return to Russia?
- In order to cause imbalance to Russian war efforts against them.
What was Lenin’s thoughts on the revolution in February 1917?
- Lenin believed that a second revolution should swiftly follow the first which went completely away from marxist ideology.
Who responded to Lenin’s call for a second revolution with ‘We do not agree with him’?
- Kamenev, a key Bolshevik
What did Lenin say about those who went against his anti-marxist stance?
‘If you can’t adjust yourself, then you’re not a revolutionary but a chatterbox’
How did Bolshevik membership increase between February 1917 and April 1917?
- Went from 25,000 members to 75,000 members.
What was the aim of the April Thesis?
- The April Thesis, was Lenin’s key promises and solely aimed to gather support for the Bolshevik cause.
What were the 3 main promises of the April Thesis?
- Bread, Peace and Land.
What was included in Lenin’s peace part of the April Thesis?
- Lenin promised to immediately end the war with Germany if the Bolsheviks were in power.
- Lenin completely disagreed with revolutionary defencism.
What was included in Lenin’s land part of the April Thesis?
- Lenin believed that reallocation of land was an issue for a democratically elected institution of Russia.
- Lenin encouraged land seizures and his slogan was ‘All Land to the Peasants’.
- This was another example of Lenin withdrawing from common socialist principle to suit his own aims.
How did Lenin’s plans affect soviet soldiers and workers?
- It gave soviets a lifeline as they had not been promised a future by the Constituent Assembly.
What was the June Offensive?
- The Kerensky/June Offensive was a Russian sudden attack on the Germans.
What were 3 reasons for the attack being seen as bizarre?
1) The Russian army was weary
2) The Russian morale was low
3) 100,000 soldiers had deserted since the February Revolution.
What were 3 key reasons for the Kerensky Offensive?
1) The Allies had planned a counterattack on Germany and the Russians were unwilling to step aside.
2) The Provisional Government saw an offensive on Germany as a chance to re-enter the negotiation process.
3) Army generals saw the Kerensky Offensive as a chance to regain authority over soldiers who had been heavily undisciplined.
What was the reality of the June Offensive?
- A disasteras initial Russian gains were followed by a German counter attack.
Why was the June Offensive positive for the Bolsheviks?
- Bad reputation for the PG
- Russians were more attracted to Bolshevism
How important was the First Machine Gun Regiment?
- One of the largest units in the Petrograd Garrison, containing 10,000 men and 1000 machine guns.
How did the First Machine Gun Regiment trigger the July Days?
- The Regiment was called upon to help the Kerensky Offensive but refused to defend Petrograd from potential revolution.
- Bolshevik supporters took this as a reason to overthrow the Provisional Government.
How were Bolsheviks supported in the July Days?
- 20,000 Kronstadt sailors joined
What was the outcome of the July Days?
- Lenin didn’t urge crowds on and called for calm, claiming that the revolution was too weak to be sufficient yet.
- Crowds dispersed and momentum was lost.
- The Provisional Government issued an arrest warrant for Lenin’s arrest, in which he fled to Finland, whilst ransacking Bolshevik officials and disbanded armies that had been involved.
What happened to the Government after the Germans were now 300 miles away from Petrograd?
- Prince Lvov resigned and Kerensky succeeded him as Prime Minister.
Why was Kerensky the obvious successor?
- Support for Kerensky had reached high levels.
- He was seen as the man who could save Russia.
-He defended the country from revolution.
What type of Government did Kerensky want?
- A liberal-socialist coalition.
Why was it hard for Kerensky to form his Government to begin with?
- Political parties were falling apart.
Why did the Kadets collapse?
- Their dreams of a decisive victory for Russia in the war were shattered and they became more right wing in approach against inferior socialists.
Why did the SR’s collapse?
- A split was forming between the Left SR’s who sympathised with Lenin’s ideas and the Right SR’s who defended ‘Revolutionary defencism’.
What percentage of SR members were left?
- Up to 40%. (Suggesting the lack of confidence within the SR party)
How did Kerensky resolve arguments between SRs and Kadets?
- Kerensky resigned himself and threatened to not return unless he had the decision of choosing his ministers.
Why was Kerensky’s established liberal-socialist coalition not strong?
- The previous political heavyweights were now sidelined (Guchkov, Milyukov and Tsereteli)
What was the initial change to Russian industry after the February Revolution?
- Workers were no longer inferior to their Tsarist bosses.
- Workers seized opportunities to get rid of bosses who didn’t treat them fairly.
- Workers saw doubled/tripled increases in wages.
How did initial change for factory workers end up to be similar to Tsarist conditions?
- Despite wage increases, rampant inflation, due to ongoing food shortages, meant there was little benefit for workers.
Why was there conflict between factory workers and businessmen?
- Factory workers demanded wage increases to compensate for roaring prices.
- Businessmen countered them due to higher wage costs and falling productivity, leaving them bankrupt.
- Workers called strikes but businessmen would shut down factories.
What is the term used for conflict between classes in this time period?
‘Social Polarisation’
What happened involving agriculture and peasants after the February Revolution?
- Peasants waited for land reforms from the Provisional Government as they believed that the land belonged to those who worked on it.
- However, patience soon became thin and peasants revolted by seizing land estates by force to prove their point.
How did the Provisional Government respond to land seizures by peasants?
- Had no purpose to defend the countryside due to the numerous amount of issues in Russia.
Why did Kerensky appoint Kornilov?
- Due to his toughness and heroic personnel in battle.
What was Kornilov’s political agenda?
- Kornilov was disgusted by the February Revolution and aimed to restore order and discipline within Petrograd.
How did a fellow-general of Kornilov describe him?
- Kornilov was described as having the heart of a lion but the brain of a sheep.
What did Kornilov request should happen if he accepted Kerensky’s appointment?
- He insisted on deserters being killed.
- He insisted of the banning of industrial strikes during war time.
- He insisted on no civilian interference with politics.
How did Kornilov up the stakes?
- He called for the imposition of martial law in Petrograd, intent on making himself a military dictator.
How did Kornilov respond to Kerensky’s sacking of him?
- Kornilov marched on Petrograd with General Krymov.
How did Kerensky have to defend the capital from Kornilov?
- Kerensky called upon the Petrograd Soviet, so the garrison, Kronstadt sailors and the Red Guards defended the capital.
How was the Kornilov push suppressed?
- Railwaymen loyal to the Petrograd Soviet held up trains.
- Bolsheviks infiltrated Krymov’s advancing forces and succeeded in turning ordinary soldiers against their rulers.
How did the left wing attack Kerensky after the Kornilov affair?
- Kerensky was seen as an enemy for leaving workers vulnerable to Kornilov’s scheme.
How did the middle class see Kerensky after the Kornilov Affair?
- The middle class saw Kerensky as a political coward.
How did the right wing see Kerensky after the Kornilov Affair?
- They believed he should’ve listened to Kornilov.
Why were the Bolsheviks the winners of the Kornilov Affair?
- Led the defence of Petrograd.
- Many of the infiltrators were Bolshevik.
- Bolsheviks were able to revert the failure of the July Days.
What evidence is there to show that Bolshevik support increased after the Kornilov Affair?
- Membership of the Party increased.
- They started to win soviets in major cities.
- They won 51% of the city council elections in Moscow.
Which political figure boosted the Bolshevik cause in may after returning from exile?
- Trotsky became the leader of the Petrograd Soviet.
Why else were the Bolsheviks becoming more supported?
- Better leadership and organisation.
- Lenin’s policies were becoming even more attractive to many.
- Trotsky was the best revolutionary in Russia which gave them strength.
Why had Lenin been instrumental in Bolshevik popularity?
- The policies he set out in the April Thesis were able to gain popularity.
- Lenin was persistent and urgent to go ahead with the revolution and without this, the Bolsheviks may not have seized the moment.
How did Trotsky influence the October Revolution?
- Trotsky determined the military approach that the October Revolution would follow.
What was Lenin’s famous quote in a letter he sent to the Bolshevik Central Committee?
‘History will not forgive us if we do not assume power now’
What was the Central Committee’s initial response to Lenin’s letters?
- Ignored Lenin.
What was the view of Kamenev and Zinoviev in relation to the Bolshevik cause?
- These two senior officers believed that the Bolsheviks should aim to maximise their votes in the Constituent Assembly elections and potentially form a coalition with the left SRs and Mensheviks.
How did Lenin’s debate with the Central Committee end?
- Ended with a 10-2 victory to Lenin’s cause.
How did Kamenev respond to the defeat?
- Kamenev published an article, distancing himself for Lenin’s radical direction.
How did Lenin respond to Kamenev’s postscript?
- Lenin was angered about the disloyalty of Kamenev as well as his decision to make the Bolshevik cause public.
Why did the Central Committee not allow Lenin to organise the Revolution?
- Lenin was a strategist not a tactician like Trotsky.
What was Trotsky’s priority for the Russian Revolution?
- To camouflage the Bolshevik seizure of power with the soviets seizing power on behalf of the people to ensure that the Bolsheviks weren’t seen as seizing power for their own personal interests.
What was the Military Revolutionary Committee?
- A body aimed to organise Petrograd’s defences against the possibility of an attack by German forces or by domestic counter-revolutionaries.
Why was the MRC important for Trotsky?
- It was placed under Bolshevik control.
- It had access to valuable military intelligence and to stockpiles of weaponry.
- The bolsheviks could use the MRC as acting on behalf of the Petrograd Soviet.
How did the military sitatuion of Trotsky and the Bolsheviks differ to the Provisional Government’s military situation?
- Trotsky had access to Kronstadt sailors, the Red Guard and the MRc.
- KErensky believed he had loyal troops but this just wasn’t the case.
When did the October Revolution begin
- 24th October 1917.
How did Lenin describe the events of the October Revolution?
- He described taking the Winter Palace as easier than a feather.
What were the key events on the 24th of October?
- In the evening, Bolsheviks began to take control of railway stations, post and telegraph offices, bridges and key installations.
- Guards moved off without a fight.
What happened on the 25th October?
- Kerensky searched for commited, outskirted armies to defend Petrograd.
- The Bolsheviks surrounded the Winter Palace.
- the second Congress of Soviets took place.
What happened on the 26th October?
- Mensheviks and moderate SRs walked out of congress in protest against the Bolshevik victory.
- Provisional Government was overthrown and ministers were arrested.
- Lenin issued a decree on land and a decree on peace.
How did the revolution in Moscow go in comparison to Petrograd?
- Bolsheviks were under prepared in Moscow and it took 1 week of fighting with the PG to control Moscow.
1,000 died.
Why did Trotsky replace ministers with sovnarkoms?
- Ministers were seen as bourgeoise and conservative.
What sovnarkom was Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin?
Lenin - The Sovnarkom for the people
Trotsky - Foreign Affairs
Stalin - Nationalities
Where did the Bolsheviks score highly during the Constituent Assembly elections?
- Major cities.
Who did people in the countryside vote for?
- The Social Revolutionaries
Why was the SR majority invalidated?
- Left SRs were virtually Bolsheviks as Lenin had appointed several left SR Sovnarkoms.
Conclusion: Why did the Provisional Government fail?
- There was polarisation between the liberals and socialists.
- The PG didn’t have the resources to back up its wills.
- The Provisional Government were unlucky with the Constituent Assembly elections being so much later on.
- Kerensky was driven by personal interest.
- The PG couldn’t contain Lenin and Trotsky due to their lack of political heavyweights.
