February - October 1917

Question 1

What parties did the Provisional Government mainly consist of?

Answer 1

Octobrist and Kadet parties, did not have popular support throughout Russia

Question 2

What parties did the Provisional Government not consist of?

Answer 2

Mensheviks, Bolsheviks - formed rival power base in Petrograd government - made it difficult to make clear decisions and for the gov. to function effectively

Question 3

What were the immediate problems with the Provisional Government?

Answer 3

• SR’s Mensheviks, Bolsheviks formed rival power base in Petrograd government - made it difficult to make clear decisions and to function effectively
• Allowed more political freedoms - people could openly criticise government
• June 1917 - Petrograd Soviet became the All-Russia Soviet - claimed right to issue laws for Russia - issued Order no.1 - undermined military officers - said military orders should only be followed if backed by Petrograd Soviet

Question 4

What was the Impact of WW1 on the Provisional Government?

Answer 4

• would only continue to receive loan money from Britain & France if they stayed in the war
• some PG members thought it was Russia’s duty to stay in the war
• Abdication initially improved morale - poor supplies and economic problems continued - reversed process
• Petrograd Soviet March 17 declared they only supported a defensive war - PG disagreed with PS
• April 17 demonstrations against war Petrograd increased

Question 5

How did the Provisional Government lose lots of support in June?

Answer 5

• supported ‘June Offensive’ against Austro-Hungarians - failed - mass desertions- morale collapsed

Question 6

Why did political, social and economic chaos still increase in the countryside?

Answer 6

PG exerted control on cities but did not have capability to influence countryside - could not stop peasants seizing large amounts of land from landowners