The Provisional Government and its opponents February-October 1917

Provisional government

This was a non-elected committee created to run the country until a constituent assembly had been elected. It was dominated by Kadets (led my Milyukov) and the Prime minister was Prince Lvov, head of the union of zemstva.

Kerensky

A member of both the Petrograd soviet and the Provisional government who provided communication for the two. He gains political influence throughout 1917, eventually becoming prime minister

Milyukov

Head of the Kadets and he pointed out governmental flaws suggesting they had been appointed by the revolution itself

Petrograd soviet

Made up of socialist intellectuals, and representatives of the army and workers, this made up part of the dual authority and controlled the army. it had c.3000 members and aimed to protect the rights of soldiers and the working classes

Soviet Order No.1

This made it so the army would only follow the provisional government if the soviet agreed

Provisional government measures

These gave amnesty to political prisoners, abolished capital punishment, unrestricted freedoms of speech and assembly, gave equal rights to all citizens regardless of background, dissolved the tsarist police forces, and made elections of zemstva and local councils fully democratic. Lenin claimed these made Russia “the freest country in the world”

Stalin

He helped run the Bolsheviks in Lenin’s absence and spoke to the soviet to pressure peace talks

Lev Kamenev

He helped to run the Bolsheviks in Lenin’s absence and insisted on cooperation with the provisional government

Lenin

He was exiled in Europe so could only send “letters from afar”. He urged the war to become an international class war and made it clear Bolsheviks should not cooperate with the PG (he described it as a parliamentary-bourgois republic).

April theses

Lenin issued these which outlined his ideas for the Bolshevik party.

Kadets (left)

(liberals) Their policies included greater social reforms and more power to regional and local governments; wanted to continue the war to remain an important power; wanted to wait to redistribute land until the CA was elected but wait for after the war to elect it; and maintain the empire

Kadets (right)

(liberals) Led my Milyukov, they wanted the revolution to go no further; they wanted to continue the war to make territorial gains; wanted to wait to redistribute land until CA was elected, wanted to maintain the empire; and wanted the government to be democratically elected and centrally controlled

Socialist revolutionaries

(socialists) They wanted to cooperate with the PG to ensure people’s rights were not jeopardised; they were anxious to redistribute land but willing to wait; and they wanted more self-governed local control and Ukraine to have self government. Chernov and moderates favoured continuation of a defensive war to prevent continuation but left wing opposed its continuation.

Mensheviks

(socialists) They wanted to cooperate with the PG to ensure people’s rights were not jeopardised; they wanted to leave land redistribution until after the CA was elected; and they wanted more self-governed local control and Ukraine to have self government. Tsereteli and moderatess favoured continuation of a defensive war to prevent continuation but Martov and internationalists opposed its continuation.

Bolsheviks

(socialists) Stalin and Kamenev wanted to cooperate with the provisional government and end the war. However, Lenin urged they do not cooperate with the PG, turn the war into a class war to work for a true revolution, he wanted to overthrow the PG and give the soviet full authority, and give power to the workers

Milyukov crisis

This caused a serious rift between the soviet and PG. The soviet had issued an “Address to the people of the whole world” calling for peace which the PG declared it had accepted. However, Milyukov p;edges to the allies that they will fight until Germany was defeated causing people to violently demonstrate against it. As a result, Milyukov and war minister Guchkov were forced to resign, Kerensky gained major political influence, places in the PG were offered to socialists but they were often isolated (viewed as compromising with the bourgeoisie) and Lenin disapproved of it.

June offensive

Kerensky campaigned for a continuation of the war despite no hope for success. In june, a major offensive was launched on the South Western front however there was incredibly low morale and the Bolsheviks encouraged them to disobey orders. This resulted in a massive failure as the Russian forces were no match for the Austrians who easily repelled them. Whole Russian regiments deserted or mutinied, General Kornilov demanded an end to the offensive, Lvov is replaced by Kerensky and Kornilov became commander in chief

Address to the people of the whole world

This was issued by the Soviet calling for Peace. The provisional government declared its agreement to it promising peace negotiations

Kronstadt and the July days

This was a naval base 30km from Petrograd where sailors and workers defied central authorities by establishing their own separate government. a number of revolutionaries attempted to take this opportunity to bring down the Provisional government. National minorities began claiming self government and there were violent demonstrations in the streets amplified by the failure of the June offensive. However it was confused and disorganised making it easy for the PG to restore order. As a result the PG appears strong as they crushed the opposition and remained in power

Kerensky crushes the Bolsheviks

Kerensky used the July days as an excuse to do this. He arrested Trotsky and Kamenev, closed Pravda (a Bolshevik newspaper) and Lenin flees to Finland. This removed a key threat to the PG and framed the Bolsheviks as traitors

Kornilov affair

as German forces advanced into Russia, Petrograd was flooded by deserters and refugees. General Kornilov declared the government risked a socialist insurrection and marched on Petrograd. It is debated whether Kerensky was involved however Kornilov aimed to overthrow the PG and establish military rule. Kerensky called on the people of Petrograd to arm themselves and defend the city as well as releasing and arming the Bolsheviks. This was not needed as railway workers refused to transport Kornilov’s army and a mass worker’s militia opposed him so he allowed himself to be arrested. This left the PG appearing vulnerable to military threat and the Bolsheviks seemed the heroes of Petrograd resulting in a growth of support

PG on the Land question

The February revolution led peasants to believe they would benefit from a major land redistribution however the PG had no real answer. They had set up a Land commission to help with redistribution but it achieved little, most of its members were from the landed, propertied classes so were willing for the estates of the fallen monarchy to be distributed but had no intention of losing their own possesions

Bolsheviks on the Land question

Initially they did not have a land policy for the proletariat revolution was purely working class. However, faced with the mass peasant land seizures, Lenin asserted the peasants were a truly revolutionary force and could be added to the proletariat cause. as a result he adopted the “Land to the peasants” slogan and would recognise the land seizures ans legitimate

Military Revolutionary committee

Established by Trotsky and led by the Troika, this was to organise the defense of Petrograd against possible attack.

Pre-parliament

This was an advisory body formed by kerensky of members from every political party. The Bolsheviks walked out of the first meeting and Lenin tried to rouse the Bolsheviks to overthrow the PG but failed

Zinoviev and Kamenev

These were two leading Bolsheviks that released an article arguing the Bolsheviks should not overthrow the government in the current circumstances. This panicked Kerensky and he closed Pravda and began arresting Bolsheviks, provoking them to take action

Dual Authority

Made up of the provisional government and the Petrograd soviet, this system led to constant disagreements.

Bolshevik insurrection

Lenin orders this and Trotsky commanded the red guard (c. 10 000 elderly or retired Bolshevik soldiers) to take key locations. There was no resistance from he PG and many escaped unnoticed

2 March 1917

Provisional government declared

March 1917

Soviet Order No.1

Spring 1917

The provisional government introduced a series of measures

April 1917

Milyukov crisis

April 1917

Lenin issued the April theses

June 1917

June offensive

14 March 1917

Soviet issues “address to the people of the war”

August 1917

Kornilov affair

3 - 6 July 1917

July days

May 1917

Kronstadt

July 1917

Kerensky crushes the Bolsheviks

September 1917

Bolsheviks have the majority in the Petrograd and Moscow soviets (Trotsky was chairman for Petrograd) Partially due to public support but also as no other attended

10 October 1917

Bolsheviks vote in favour of an armed insurrection

9 October 1917

Trotsky establishes the Military Revolutionary committee

23 October 1917

Kerensky closed pravda and arrests Bolsheviks out of fear of the insurrection

25-27 October 1917

Petrograd falls under Bolshevik control. 6 deaths likely from red guard friendly fire