DEPTH STUDIES: To what extent did opposition from national minorities lead to the fall of the PG?

Question 1

Why did minority groups become frustrated at the PGs focus primarily on Petrograd and Moscow?

Answer 1

• Felt that their needs weren’t being addressed.
• PG’s slowness at creating an assembly which minorities could represent their views caused resentment and led to increased calls for autonomy.

Question 2

Evidence of the empire disintegrating under the PG:

Answer 2

• Rada Council was formed in Kiev - its main aim was to press for Ukraine to have autonomy.
• In Finland politicians campaigned for the establishment of the Sejm (parliament) - free from the influence of central Russian government.

Question 3

Evidence that the PG did try to address the concerns of minorities:

Answer 3

• Demands for self-rule in the Transcaucasus were met with the formation of a Special Transcaucasian Committee.

Question 4

Opposition to the PG from the national minorities:

Answer 4

• When bodies such as the Rada and the Sejn said they would deal with local social and economic problems such as land distribution - they became a tier of unofficial opposition to policies announced in Petrograd.

Question 5

Why does it seem naive that the PG didn’t priorities the land issue?

Answer 5

• The majority of the popualtion in Georgia, Estonia and Ukraine were peasants.
• This led to a rise of nationalism that led to more left-wing parties gaining support.