The Provisional Government Topic 9 History

What were Russia's 2 new governments?

The Provisional Government

The Petrograd Soviet

Why did they call themselves the Provisional Government?

They called themselves that meaning that they would govern Russian for a short time until elections could be held. Then they would resign.

Which government was the official government between the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet?

The Provisional Government.

Where was the meeting place for the Provisional Government the Petrograd Soviet?

Tauride Palace (The Petrograd Soviet's meeting place was just across the corridor in the same place)

What was the Petrograd Soviet's aim?

To protect the interests of working people and soldiers.

What was the full name of the Petrograd Soviet?

Petrograd Soviet of Workers' ans Soldiers' Deputies.

Whatever the Petrograd Soviet decided....

was imitated by the other soviets that formed in other towns.

What did its imitation in other tows do to the Petrograd Soviet?

It gave it great power.

What was the Petrograd Soviets' first action?

To issue an order for armed forces.

What did Order No. 1 from the Petrograd Soviet state?

Soldiers and sailors must set up committees to take control of all arms, ammunition and equipment. And Off-duty soldiers were not to salute their officers and had to address them as 'Mister Colonel','Mister General', and so on, instead of 'Your Excellency'.

Where was Order No. 1 obeyed?

In all parts of the army and navy, showing that the Petrograd Soviet, not the Provisional Government, controlled the armed forces.

How many deputies were in the Petrograd Soviet?

2500 deputies.

Which revolutionary groups were in the Petrograd Soviet?

There were many SRs and Mensheviks. There were also some Bolsheviks.

What were the revolutionaries in the Petrograd Soviet willing to do?

For the time being, they were willing to co-operate with the Provisional Government, and to wait for the changes they wanted. They didn't want to push their demands too far.

Where was Lenin at the time of the March Revolution?

In exile in Switzerland

Did Lenin agree with the revolutionaries who co-operated with the Provisional Government?

No. He wanted to get back to Russia to organise a second revolution

Why coudn't Lenin cross the borders to get to Russia?

Petrograd was 2000 km away and the lands between Switzerland and Russia were held by Germany and Austria, Russia's enemies in the Great War

Why was Germany happy to help Lenin get back home?

They knew he'd make trouble for the Provisional Government, and that would help Germany in the war.

What did the Germans provide Lenin with to get back home?

Food, money and a special train in which he crossed Germany safely.

When did Lenin reach Petrograd?

16th of April 1917

What were the ideas of the April Theses?

There must be an end to the war with Germany,

All land must be given to the peasants,

The Bolsheviks should change their name to "Communists",

No support must be given to the Provisional Government,

The Soviets should get together and form a new government,

"All Power to the Soviets!"

Was the attack on Austria on June 1917 successful? What happened?

No. The attack failed and turned into a retreat. Soldiers deserted from the armies in large numbers.

What happened after Russia's defeat with Austria?

Many soldiers went to Petrograd where they joined up with the Bolsheviks to demand an end to the Provisional Government and demanding that the Bolsheviks should seize power.

How many soldiers and Bolsheviks together roamed the streets of Petrograd after Russia's defeat with Austria?

More than 100,000 soldiers and Bolsheviks roamed on the streets shouting "All Power to the Soviets!"

What were the July Days and what happened afterwards because of them?

The three days of rioting were called the July Days. What happened afterwards was Alexander Kerensky (Minister of War), sent loyal troops into Petrograd. On 16th and 17th of July these troops broke up the mobs, killing and wounding 400 of them.

What did Kerensky claim?

That the Bolsheviks had been paid by the Germans to make trouble, and that Lenin was a German agent.

What did Lenin do as Kerensky issued orders for his arrest?

Lenin fled across the border into nearby Finland, in exile again.

What happened to the other leading Bolsheviks after the July Days?

They were arrested and put in prison.

What did Alexander Kerensky become?

The Prime Minister of the Provisional Government.

Immediately Kerensky was faced with a challenge. Who was it from?

General Kornilov (Commander-in-Chief or the armies).

What did General Kornilov plan to do?

Get rid of the Petrograd Soviet, to arrest revolutionaries, and take control of the Provisional Government so that he could get on with fighting Germany without any interference.

What did Kornilov believe?

That Russia needed a 'strong man' and he himself should be in charge.

Kornilov's rebel troops were about average. True of False?. (If false type the correct answer)

Kornilov's rebel troops were some of the best in Russia.

What were Kornilov's troops made up of?

The Savage Division from the Caucasus mountains, and the Cossacks.

What were Kornilov's orders to the troops?

He sent them to Petrograd with orders to get rid of the Provisional Government.

Did Kerensky have many loyal troops to defend him?

No, Kerensky had few loyal troops to defend him.

Did it seem like Kornilov's Revolt was going to succeed?

Yes

What did Kerensky allow to help defend Petrograd?

He allowed the Bolsheviks to set up a defence force called the Red Guards.

Within a few days, ____________ _____________ armed with _______ and ___________ guns were out on the streets. (Kornilov Revolt)

25,000 - Bolsheviks - rifles - machine

Why did Kornilov's troops refuse to fight?

They didn't want to fight against fellow workers

What happened to Kornilov after the revolt didn't succeed?

He was soon arrested.

How did the Bolsheviks come out of the Kornilov revolt?

As heroes. they had saved the Provisional Government. This showed that they weren't German agents after all. They also came out of it as an armed and disciplined fighting force.

How did they strengthen their position even further?

When they got a majority in the elections for the Petrograd Soviet in September. The same happened in elections for the Soviets in Moscow and other big cities.

When were the Bolsheviks stronger than ever? And what did they want to do?

By October 1917. They began to consider carrying out a second revolution, and this time the chances of success looked good.