Russia and its Rulers Provisional Government A-Level History Revision Notes
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Rulers include: Kerensky, Nicholas II and Len...
Unit Y318: Russia and its Rulers 1855–1964
Depth Studies
Provisional Government
, Main domestic policies of the Provisional Government
In March, the Provisional Government assumed control. It was intended to be temporary till
elections could be held. The Provisional Government was dominated by moderate liberals – Kadets.
The Provisional Government lacked legitimacy and was seen as a remnant of the Tsars. It lacked
the support of the workers who looked to the soviets. Moreover, it didn’t have any right to assume
power as the Provisional Government had been formed after the Tsar had dissolved the Duma.
Provisional Government Early Agenda
General Amnesty of political prisoners
Basic civil liberties e.g. freedom of press, of speech etc
Tsar’s secret police abolished
Abolition of the death penalty and exile as a punishment
Petrograd regiments that had taken part in the revolution would not serve in the front lines
Main Promise
Elections for the Constituents Assembly were to be held with universal suffrage (this wasn’t
specified when)
As time went on, suspicion grew that the ‘bourgeoise government’ were delaying elections to
preserve its own power – the Bolsheviks were able to benefit from these fears
These freedoms however allowed the growth of groups like the Bolsheviks as the Provisional
Government limited their tools of oppression to combat opposition.
Was the Provisional Government doomed from the start?
Expectations of the Provisional Government
Workers – 8-hour day, wage rises, improvements in working conditions, legalisation of trade
unions
Soldiers – An end to the war (high desertions from the army)
Peasants – Land distribution
Lenin April Thesis appealed to these groups by calling for ‘Peace, Land Bread’.
Dual Power – an uneasy alliance
Workers, peasants and soldiers regarded the provisional government as illegitimate and saw the
Petrograd soviet as more democratic.
However, through Alexander Kerensky, the only member of both the Soviet and Provisional
Government, an agreement of Dual Power was reached.
Soviets: Local, districts and provincial workers councils: the Petrograd soviet was the most
important.
The soviets saw themselves as defenders of the revolution. They issued Army Order No.1.
Army Order No.1 – Orders of the Provisional Government were only to be obeyed if they did not
conflict with the orders of the Soviets.
This was an attempt to weaken old-fashion disciple within the army from reversing the Revolution.
The Milyukov Letter
Milyukov wrote a letter to Britain and France promising support. Milyukov and Guchkov, the
minister of War who supported the letter was forced to resigned after a massive anti-war
demonstration in Petrograd.
July Days
Protests against the Provisional Government and their policies, workers, soldiers and sailors.
The Bolsheviks may have been involved with starting it. The army was able to put down the protest
showing some support for the Provisional Government.
The Bolsheviks were arrested e.g. Trotsky. Lenin fled. The Pravda was shut down.
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