WWI effects on Provisional Government Flashcards
(10 cards)
Why did the PG have to remain in the war?
Nationalism
Wanted to be in a better position for a peace settlement.
Obligation to allied because of treaties
Why was the obligation to the allies for economic policies such a big deal?
This is as Russian economic policy relied heavily on foreign investment, furthered by finance minister Sergei Witt. Used subsidies and direct investment to stimulate expansion of heavy industry which allowed for foreign investment.
Statistics for why foreign investment was so important
In the 1890’s this was extremely important for wanting to industrialise.
By 1914, it amounted to a third of capital investment (in metallurgy, banking and textiles). France, England and Germany were the biggest sources of foreign capital who were allies. If they lost them, inflation would rise more.
5 issues that arose from WWI on the PG
Economic breakdown
Military collapse
Loss of population support
Political Polarisation
Delay of key reforms
What happened in the economic breakdown?
Continued war spending rapidly worsened Russia’s already devastated economy.
Inflation soared — by mid-1917, the ruble had lost significant value, and basic goods were unaffordable for most workers.
Food and fuel shortages in cities, especially Petrograd, led to mass discontent.
Railways, already overburdened by troop and supply transport, couldn’t deliver food or coal efficiently to urban centres.
Strikes became common — over 700,000 workers went on strike in the first half of 1917.
What happened in the military collapse?
The Kerensky Offensive (June 1917) failed catastrophically, leading to mass desertions and heavy casualties.
Soldiers became increasingly radicalised, siding with the Soviets and Bolsheviks.
The army, once the government’s tool for order, could no longer be relied upon — discipline collapsed and entire units refused orders.
Officers, often loyal to the Tsar or anti-Bolshevik, grew hostile toward the government.
What happened in loss of support?
The war had been a key reason for the Tsar’s downfall; the people expected peace from the new Provisional Government.
However, the government chose to continue fighting, due to pressure from the Allies (Britain and France) and internal divisions over peace terms.
This alienated:
Workers suffering economic hardship.
Soldiers desperate to return home.
Peasants who wanted land reform, not more war deaths.
What happened in political polarisation?
The war deepened splits between moderate and radical forces:
Mensheviks and SRs supported the war conditionally, aligning with the Provisional Government.
Bolsheviks opposed the war outright, using slogans like “Peace, Land, Bread” to attract mass support.
The decision to continue the war strengthened the Bolsheviks while weakening the authority and unity of the Provisional Government.
What happened in delay of key reforms
War took priority over land reform, food distribution, and political restructuring.
The Provisional Government argued that reform must wait until after the war and a Constituent Assembly.
This frustrated peasants, workers, and minorities, all of whom demanded “peace now” and “land now”.
It created a perception that the Provisional Government was “all authority, but no power,” as Lenin described it.
Overall impact
It exacerbated economic chaos and class tensions.
It undermined military loyalty, removing the government’s main tool of enforcement.
It strengthened opposition groups, particularly the Bolsheviks.
Made the PG seem illegitimate - making to seem like the old regime.
