Provisional Government Sentences To Get Going

Question 1

Intro for why did it fail

Answer 1

The failure of the PG can be attributed to a complex interplay of political, social, economic and military factors, all occurring during a period of revolutionary upheaval. While it initially aimed to prepare for elections to establish a liberal democracy- the ‘constituent assembly’ following the fall of the Romanovs, it ultimately collapsed under the weight of internal contradictions and external pressures. Its failure can widely be regarded as the result of the failure to address key social issues, particularly the land question, war fatigue and economic instability.

Question 2

Sentence to link to economy.

Answer 2

The provisional government, however, lacked the legitimacy and resources to implement economic reforms. It continued to rely on the pre-revolutionary bureaucracy and failed to introduce effective measures to stabilise the economy, which alienated workers and peasants, who increasingly turned to the soviets for answers.

Question 3

PG failure or Bolshevik strength.

Answer 3

The PG’s downfall was less about Bolshevik strength than about the governments own inability to adapt to revolutionary conditions.

Question 4

PG aims nuance

Answer 4

While the PG is often judged for failing to address key issues such as land reform or war fatigue, this criticism may be misplaced. From a constitutionalist perspective, the PG was not intended to be a revolutionary body, but a transitional one- a temporary authority, tasked with organising democratic elections for a ‘constituent assembly’. Its reluctance to implement radical reforms to stabilise these issues reflected not incompetence, bit a commitment to legal process and political moderation. However, in the volatile context of 1917, where revolutionary sentiment demanded immediate action, this approach rendered the PG politically obsolete, not because it failed its aims, but because those aims were incompatible with the revolutionary expectations of the time.

Question 5

Sentence on opposition/introduction to opposition

Answer 5

While the PG faced structural constraints and inherited a deeply fractured society from the Tsarist regime, its collapse was significantly accelerated by the intensifying political opposition it faced throughout 1917. The Bolsheviks, with their anti-government agitation and increasing influence as a result of the Kornilov affair and in the Soviets, capitalised on discontent, and delegitimised the governments authority. Crises like the July days and the Kornilov affair exposed the governments lack of a reliable military force or political allies. These oppositional forces- created a volatile atmosphere that ultimately eroded the PG’s ability to govern and cleared the path for the October revolution.

Question 6

Phrase for political differences/splits.

Answer 6

Political polarisation and fragmentation.

Question 7

Judgement on if the PG did have some successes

Answer 7

Although often characterised as a failure, especially due to its collapse in 1917, it did achieve some short term- successes in both domestic and foreign policy. Domestically, its most significant accomplishment was the immediate liberalisation of Russian society following the Feb Rev. Censorship was abolished, political prisoners were released- moves that represented a stark break from the autocratic repression of the Tsarist regime. The government also laid the groundwork for Russias first democratic elections, by pledging to convene a constituent assembly, reflecting a commitment to representative governance. In foreign policy, the PG attempted to maintain Russias alliances with Britain and France- the milyukov note of April 1917 reaffirmed this commitment, yet caused backlash at home, forcing Milyukov and Guchkov to resign. While these efforts upheld Russia’s external obligations, they alienated much of the domestic population. Moreover, the governments inability to enact deeper reforms- particularly land redistribution ad economic stabilisation severely undermined its early successes.

Question 8

Judgement for which was more effective- the PG or the PS

Answer 8

During the period of dual authority in 1917, the Petrograd society proved more effective than the PG in wielding real political and social influence, despite lacking executive power. PG was hampered by its own indecisiveness, lack of coercive force and its continued commitment to the war, which alienated most of the population.