Development of Russia under Dual Power of 1917

Question 1

What was the Prov Gov constituted of?

Answer 1

elites, liberals, socialists and Kadets.

Question 2

What was the intention of the prov Gov?

Answer 2

To be an intermediary body to organise a Constituent Assembly Election.

Question 3

How were the Prov Gov accepted by civil service, army and police?

Answer 3

They had GD Mikhail’s blessing.

Question 4

How did the Petrograd Soviet regard the Prov Gov?

Answer 4

A self-appointed committee of the wealthy, tainted by their association with stardom.

Question 5

What was the Petrograd Soviet dominated by?

Answer 5

Mensheviks and SRs with some Bolsheviks. Primarily socialist intellectuals who claimed direct democratic authority due to their electoral system.

Question 6

What did Kerensky do, as the only member in the Prov Gov and the Soviet?

Answer 6

Brokered a deal to work together and share authority on all decisions.

Question 7

What did the Soviet agree to, and what did they not demand?

Answer 7

They didn’t demand land redistribution or nationalisation of industry.
They agreed to amnesty for political prisoners, basic civil liberties, the right to strike and a constituent assembly.

Question 8

What did the Prov Gov want to rule on?

Answer 8

The ‘consent of free citizens to the power they created’.

Question 9

What did they release censorship on?

Answer 9

Religion, press, abolished death penalty and replaced police force.

Question 10

How were the Prov Gov affected by Order No1?

Answer 10

The Military Commission in the Soviet meant that the Soviet had to approve any military action the Prov Gov wanted.

Question 11

What was the differing approach to deserters and countryside unrest?

Answer 11

Prov Gov wanted to discipline deserters and restore order, Soviet advocated for mutiny and standing up for self-beliefs.

Question 12

What was the Prov Gov’s decision for war which alienated people?

Answer 12

They announced an all-out attempt to win the war - the people expected an end to austerity with the change in leadership.

Question 13

What were the issues with strikes?

Answer 13

When Milyukov announced the war would continue, there was an anti-war demonstration with 800 arrests which forced his and Guchkov’s resignation.

Question 14

Who replaced Milyukov and Guchkov in the Prov Gov?

Answer 14

Chernov and Kerensky - who quickly replaced Lvov.

Question 15

What exacerbated the fears of a socialist revolution?

Answer 15

The Bolshevik-organised July Days. 3 days of mass street rioting.

Question 16

What was the cause of Kornilov’s downfall?

Answer 16

He tried storming Petrograd as Kerensky had instructed, but last-minute Kerensky switched sides and supported the Soviets with soldiers, weaponry and released political prisoners. Kornilov was defeated and taken prisoner.

Question 17

What was Kornilov appointed to?

Answer 17

Commander in Chief

Question 18

What was the support for the Prov Gov like in July 1917, and why?

Answer 18

Low support - food supplies inconsistent and never-ending bureaucracy held up decision-making.

Question 19

What was inflation during this period?

Answer 19

755%.

Question 20

What was put in place to try and curb strikes?

Answer 20

8-hour working day, and the managers had the right to fire those who strike.

Question 21

What was the Prov Gov last-ditch effort to save themselves?

Answer 21

Establishing an electoral commission to arrange elections for Nov 1917, but this was seen as delaying the move to true democracy in order to preserve own power.

Question 22

Which party benefitted most out of the failure of the Dual Power system?

Answer 22

The Bolsheviks - by staying relatively separate to the Soviet they were left unincriminated in the public eye.