Depth Studies: Provisional Government

Question 1

Why was the Provisional Government a failure

Answer 1

• doomed from the start but this was aided by the poor decisions made
• however, did successful achieve main aim of preparing for elections for a new Constituent Assembly
• it was not the PG’s failures but the Bolshevik determination to seize power (October revolution)
• lacked legitimacy: unelected and made up of members of the Progressive Bloc within the Duma

Question 2

Provisional Government opposition

Answer 2

• shared authority with Petrograd Soviet: 1. Opposed the pg’s proposals 2. Good degree of support from workers, peasants, soldiers and sailors
• ps and pg disagreement over involvement in ww1 (pg wanted a “decisive victory” and ps wanted “peace without annexations or indemnities” and “revolutionary defencism”
• peasant land issue

Question 3

What was made known by the Kornilov Affair

Answer 3

• 1917
• Bolsheviks were seen as heroes as they organised the protection of Petrograd
• if the PG were susceptible to being challenged by the military, then they could be challenged by other groups wanting power too
• compared to Lenin, Karensky was a weak leader

Question 4

Why was social and economic reform such a problem for the Provisional Government

Answer 4

• they gave these issues little attention, which may have resulted in why they lost power so quickly
• they could have: released political prisoners, end Secret Courts and instigated freedoms in the press

Question 5

What challenges did the Provisional Government face

Answer 5

• they were unwilling to make appropriate changes
• the attempt to unite the Provisional government and the Petrograd Soviet in May 1917 via a coalition government
• land distribution issues were not addressed, which was the peasants main concern
• they clamped down on workers’ committees which contradicted the liberal stance they had taken
• involvement in WWI continued

Question 6

What is the optimist view of WWI’s impact on the Provisional Government?

Answer 6

• war had popular support and withdrawal/peace would have been honourable BUT Germany had a strong military position in March 1917 so they were unlikely to give that up to reach peace
• there was limited support from allies: Britain and France
• social issues (land distribution and public health) were ignored as war was the top priority
• the PG was unlucky to be formed so late in WWI as socioeconomic damage had already occurred

Question 7

What is the pessimist view of WWI’s impact on the Provisional Government?

Answer 7

• the Provisional Government was a variation of the Tsarist regime and the empire was in danger BEFORE the war as the government struggled with demands for autonomy from Finland, Poland and Ukraine
• workers organised and campaigned socioeconomic changes BEFORE WWI
• Kerensky’s failures as a leader caused him to lack trust from workers and peasants

Question 8

Provisional Government’s issues with national minorities

Answer 8

the Provisional government’s focus was on the political, economic and social issues with Russia and therefore the National Minorities:
- needs and wants weren’t met, causing resentment and calls for autonomy
- were spurred on by workers, sailors and soldiers committee’s for more rights
- took advantage of the ‘principles’ that the PG had implemented
Some organised their own forms on provincial government
- A Central Rada (council) was formed in Kiev (Ukraine) with an aim for autonomy for Ukraine
- in Finland, politicians campaigned for Sejm (parliament) that was free from the control of the Russian government