The Provisional Government (Post Feb. 1917 Revolution)
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IB History
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Wellington International School
Book
Russia Under Tsarism and Communism 1881-1953
An in depth look into the Russian1917 revolution, namely the set up of the Provisional Government, and its effect with key dates and figures. Summary notes are included at the end of each important section as well as a timeline at the start of the document in order to visually summarize the key eve...
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THE POVISITIONAL
GOVERNMENT AND THE
SOVIETS
DUEL GOVERNMENT
The Tsarsist Regime
, The Provisional Government
Set up by individuals in the Dumas after N.II denied their right to form a Minister of National
Confidence. In repose, the majority of the deputies’ formed what was known as the progressive block
of deputies. This became the focus of resistance against the Tsar and turned into the Provisional
Government after the abdication of the Tsar.
Issues the P.G had to overcome:
• National minorities
• Economy
• Social Reform
• War
• Land
Key Issues in March 1917: National Minorities
Many national groups in Fins, Poland, and the Ukraine were asking for independence or more self-
government now that the tsarist regime had collapsed.
Key Issues in March 1917: Economy
The provisional government needed to find a solution to the economic situation, particularly the
supply of food and fuel, in order to prevent future rebellion as well as to allow Russia to survive
Key Issues in March 1917: Social Reform
The P.G needed to quickly set up a program of social reform for the workers (e.g. greater power in
the workplace, improvements in working and living conditions) . However, how far should it go and
how quickly can this be set up. The P.G was a temporary form of government, which was not even
votes into power, and therefore they felt as though they should not make any permanent drastic
changes until a formal body was VOTED into power.
Key Issues in March 1917: War
Russia was at a crossroad: should they sue for immediate peace with and face all the national
shame, humiliation and loss of territory that this would bring, should Russia fight a defensive war (i.e.
seek only to defend its own existing territory) or should they continue to fight alongside the Allies in
the hope of wining more territory?
Key Issues in March 1917: Land
Another crossroad, was that the PG did not know if they should take land from the nobility and big
landowner to hand over immediately to the peasants, or for them to divide the land amongst
themselves? Or, should the redistribution of land be left for the elected government of Russia to
organize in a more controlled way?
, The Provisional Government vs. the Soviets:
Members PG: The members of the PG were largely made up leading figures of various liber parties.
There was only one socialist leader, Alexander Kerensky, who became Minister of Justice. Alexander
was also a member of the Soviets and was a main line of communication between the two.
Members Soviets: On the other hand, the Soviets were made of elected delegates who attended full
meetings. However, Mensheviks and non-party-socialists WHO WERE VOTED in by the elected
delegates dominated the Executive Committee.
How was the PG formed: It was drawn from the provisional committee of Duma deputies, which
assembled at the start of the unrest of the February revolution. On March 2nd, hours after the Tsars
abdication, the committee shed three of its October members and reformed as the Provisional
government
How were the Soviets formed: They formed on 27th Feb in Petrograd during the final days of the
Feb revolution. They began as a rowdy group of militant workers and soldiers, but within days, they
became a representative council, which contained delegates from almost every factory, workplace
and military unit in the capital
What powers did the PG have? They were only a temporary regime that was formed to oversee
Russia’s transformation from Tsarism to a democratically elected Constituent Assembly. They
therefore had no mandate as they were not be selected or endorsed by the people. The Russian
were aware that it was a temporary government as well and for this reason, the laws and decrees that
they did pass were not always taken seriously. One contemporary observes dubbed it the
“Persuasive Government”, since it had to convince people to get things done. However, it is said, that
if the people would have gone through with the ideas of the Provisional Government, Russia would
have been the most radical Liberal democracy of in Europe in 1917
What powers did the Soviets have? The soviets had more power than the PG and this was evident
even before the Tsar abdicated. Their resolution Order Number One which was issued two days prior
to the abdication of the tsar gave the soviets the right to have control over the military units and
demand that no military action to be carried out before their approval, even if the order was issued by
the state Duma. To add to this, the soviets had control over:
• The telegraph station
• Railways
• Power supplies
• Factories
• Power supplies
The power of the Soviets: why did they not take power?
Being an elected body, it was unclear as to why the Soviets did not take power over the PG. There
were three reasons as to why the Soviets did not seize power:
1. The leaders of the soviets did not believe it was the right rime for the workers to form a
government. They believed Russia first had to go through a “Bourgeois revolution” where the
workers would be educated and Russia goes through a capitalist revolution.
2. They wanted to avid a civil war and a counter revolution which would turn Russia back to their
old ways
3. The leaders of the Soviet, mainly intellectual soviets, were scared. They were not sure they
would be able to control the masses. Therefore, the leaders of the Soviets decided it would be
better to step back and let the PV steer the ship in the dangerous waters of February – April
1917, while they kept a close eye on the events
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