Lecture notes
Factors that led to the downfall of the Provisional Government
- Module
- IB Higher History
Russian History Essay, to be used as an overview.
[Show more]
Seller
FollowContent preview
Factors that led to the downfall of the Provisional GovernmentThe provisional government was brought about after the fall of the Tsarist government collapsed.
This was done purely because of lack of support for the Tsar and being the only major party. The
three key factors that led to the downfall of the Provisional Government were; the power of the
soviets, the Second World War and the failures of the Provisional Government. The most
important factor being the power of the Soviets due to their clever tactics and ability to win over
Russian people.
The most fundamental factor that led to the downfall of the Provisional Government was the
power of the Soviets and the threat they posed to the Provisional Government. The Provisional
Government lacked legitimacy as it was dominated by Octoberists and Kadet parties, the
bourgeois ministers were in power and this led to public discontent as this meant that the
minority groups did not have the support of the government. Additionally, it faced a rival for
political power from Petrograd Soviet. Which was made up of workers, soldiers and sailors which
meant that the Provisional government didn't have any military power and were therefore seen
as the weaker party. Order number one was issued which meant that the officers in the army to
be elected by their troops, this undermined the authority of officers. This meant that the military
orders of the Provisional Government would only be recognised if they were agreed by the
soviet, this was due to the dual authority, creating chaos, as both parties viewed each other with
suspicion. It could be said that the Provisional Government was doomed from the start as it did
not exert its authority over people and was in a struggle for power against Petrograd soviet who
seemed to be more passionate and stronger towards taking control.
Furthermore, Lenin's return was fundamental to the Soviets because he gave an inspirational
speech known as April Thesis which called for ‘Peace, Bread and Land’ all that the people
desired and this gave them hope, since people lost hope in their government they looked for
more radical groups to solve their problems and Stalin who promised ‘all power to the soviets’
and not the Provisional Government, seemed like the hero they wanted. Lenin set out the future
of Bolshevik policy- wanted to overthrow the Provisional Government and that appealed to the
masses, as up to then The Provisional Government had failed to fix the problems that the Tsar
left behind. Lenin saw the Petrograd Soviet could gain power and be infiltrated by the Soviets,
this led him to attempting to remove the PG through inciting demonstrations in Petrograd 21st
April 1917. Through the uprisings Lenin was becoming a threat to the Provisional Government by
trying to exploit the unpopularity of the Provisional Government. He was very persuasive and his
argument were suited to the 80% of the peasants who were in desperate need of change. Lenin
was seen as a great leader who seemed to know what he was doing and that appealed to the
people. This showed the lack of ambition and authority the Provisional Government had to
change the situation for the better, Lenin excelled at making the Provisional Government be seen
as a complete failure in the eyes of the people. The power of soviets was evident during the
October Revolution, 1917 as Bolshevik membership had risen to 200,000, this put pressure on
the Provisional Government as Lenin planned to carry out the revolution prior to the elections,
this suggested that power be handed to the All- Russia Soviet where the Bolsheviks had support.
The second most important reason for the downfall of the Provisional Government is the Second
World War and the Provisional Government’s decision to continue to participate in it. By
December 1916, 1.6 million Russian soldiers died, 3.9 million were wounded and 2.4 million
taken prisoner. This showed how the government was out of touch with its own people and their
sufferings that the war has caused. Anti- war demonstrations taking place in Petrograd in April
1917 put pressure on the Provisional Government and once again made them look weak and
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller gretahelena. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £3.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
79271 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now