Was it doomed to fail from the start?

Question 1

Reasons for YES

Answer 1

• Viewed as illegitimate
• Dual Authority
• Reforms
• Land question
• War!!!

Question 2

Reasons for NO

Answer 2

• Elections for CA
• Generally popular at start
• Kornilov affair
• July days

Question 3

Why was illegitimacy a problem?

Answer 3

• It was unelected, its members were from the old Duma and included those from the nobility.
• Therefore they had connections with the old order and Tsarist regime.

Question 4

Why was the Petrograd Soviet an issue?

Answer 4

• They had to share power with the PS, which was more popular with the workers, soldiers and sailors.
• Disagreed on key issues such as the war- the PG wanted an offensive to take more land, Soviets wanted defensive approach only

Question 5

Why was their reforms an issue?

Answer 5

• Freed political prisoners, freedom of press, speech and religion.
• Allowed for more opposition against the PG to develop.

Question 6

Why was land an issue?

Answer 6

• Promised the redistribution of state, tsarist and noble land.
• Could not complete redistribution due to fighting in the war- fear peasants would desert if they heard of land redistribution to get the best plots.
• Not an elected government so could not directly address this issue.
• Led to dissatisfaction and loss of control in the countryside.

Question 7

Why was the war an issue?

Answer 7

• Economically draining.
• Could not address the land question which led to unrest and dissatisfaction.
• Could not pull out of the war due to dependency on alliances and supplies coming from Britain and France, which would cease if they pulled out of the war.
• So felt obliged to continue.

Question 8

Describe why the CA elections mean they weren’t doomed to fail from the beginning.

Answer 8

The PG’s main aim was to prepare for the elections that would create a democratically elected Constituent Assembly. The elections for these did occur in November of 1917, these were only overturned as the Bolsheviks did not win.

Question 9

Describe how they weren’t doomed to fail (popularity)

Answer 9

• They were generally popular at the beginning.
• Had liberal minded Milyukov and Guchkov who were well known and popular.
• Reforms were popular- freedom of speech, religion, relaxation of censorship etc.

Question 10

Why was the Kornilov affair a reason that the PG weren’t doomed to fail from the beginning?

Answer 10

• This could be viewed as an important turning point in July, as it legitimised and brought popularity to the Bolsheviks.
• Made the PG look weak.

Question 11

Why are the July Days a reason why the PG wasn’t doomed to fail from the beginning.

Answer 11

• Their handling of the event made the PG look strong.
• Made the Bolsheviks look like they lacked clear leadership.
• Lenin accused of being a German spy.