3 Provisional Government and Bolshevik Revolution

List 3 weaknesses of the Provisional Government.

• Dual Control

• Order Number 1

• The Petrograd Soviet was elected, while the Provisional Government was not

What was Dual Control?

Dual Control meant that the Provisional Governnment had to answer to the Petrograd Soviet over things like railway, and the post service. It meant that it was difficult for the goverrnment to increase the food transportation to cities.

What was Order Number 1, put in place by the Petrograd Soviet?

Order Number 1 meant that the Petrograd Soviet had the power to make all military descisions. This is important because it meant that the provisional goverrnment could not work as effectively as its orders were only followed if another organisation gave its permission.

Impact of the provisional government was not elected but petrograd soviet was?

This made the provisional government seem not as legitimate, weakening its authority.

4 Mistakes of the Provisional Government

• Continuing the First World War

• Delaying elections

• Delaying reforms

• Allowing more freedom

Why was continuing the first world war a mistake?

Most ordinary people wanted Russia to leave the war as soon as possible, as they had already lost so much.

Why was delaying elections a mistake?

The Provisional Government intended to call elections to the Constituent Assembly, but they found it difficult to organise. This made them look like they just wanted to remain in power.

Why was delaying reforms a mistake?

Peasants wanted more land, and the Provisional Government did not act on this as they thought it should be decided by the Constituent Asembly. This made them loose popularity.

Why was allowing more freedom a mistake?

The Provisional Government allowed freedom of speech, which was a mistake because it meant that people could openly critisize the Provisional Government and spread their negative views of it.

What was the June Offensive?

Alexander Kerensky decided that the Russian army should launch a major offensive to gain support for the Provisional Government and boost army moral. It failed and the Russians were even further pushed back. It showed that Russia could not rely on its soldiers to follow orders, as many deserted.

Limiting factors off the Petrograd Soviet

• Both Petrograd Soviet and Provisional Government were worried about tsarist fores trying to take back Russia, so the soviet did not want to weaken them.

• Russia had many problems, and the petrograd soviet did not want blame

• The Petrograd Soviet was run by Marxists, who wanted a socialist revolution. The step before this was a bourgeois phase, which was what the provisonal government was, so the soviet supported it.

When did Lenin first return to Russia?

3rd April 1917

What were the July Days?

It was an uprising because of the shortages of food in major cities, the failiure of the June Offensive, and the use of Bolshevik Propoganda against the Government. The Bolshevik Party tried to overthrow the Provisional Government, but failed. Many Bolsheviks were arrested, and Lenin fled to Finland.

What was the Kornilov Revolt?

Kerensky, the leader of the provisional government appointed Kornilov as a commander of the Russian Army. Kornilov wanted to crack down on the petrograd Soviet and introduce martial law. Kerensky saw this as a threat to his leadership and fired Kornilov. Kornilov still sent troups to petrograd to shut down the soviet. To stop this, Kerensky allowed the Bolsheviks to arm themselves so they could defend the city and the soviet. The Bolsheviks convinced Kornilov’s troops to stop their march and desert, and Kornilov was arrested.

Impacts of the Kornilov Revolt

• Boosted support for the Bolsheviks

• Weakened provisonal government

• Presented Bolsheviks with military weapons

4 Key events of the Bolshevik takeover

1. Lenin returns

2. Military Revolutionary Commitee was set up to bring together soviet-supporting soldiers

3. Kerensky tries to stop Bolsheviks, but MRC took general control (roads, canals, army headquaters, telegraph office)

4. The Bolsheviks seize control in the winter palace (24-26th October)

3 Reasons for Bolshevik Success

• Role of Lenin

• Failures of the Provisional Government

• Role of Trotsky

Role of Lenin

Lenin’s clear thinking and strong personality were important in shaping the outcome of events. His April Thesis introduced radical new thinking into the Bolshevik party that made sense to ordinary Russians. Convinced Bolsheviks that the best way to take power was by force, and developed the strategy to make this a success.

Failures of the Provisional Government during takeover

The Kornilov Revolt weakened Kerensky and support for Provisonal Government. Army and navy lost all discipline and the provisional government could not rely on them to maintain law and order. Lost support from landowners because peasants were seizing land.

Role of Trotsky

Used clever tactics meaning troops were used effectively and there was little opposition. Was a hero among revolutionary socialists because of his role in the 1905 revolution. Trotsky was president of the petrograd soviet, meaning that the bolsheviks had control of MRC. Trotsky made it look like soviets were taking control of Russia, not just the Bolsheviks.