provisional government Russia modern history notes

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hoped to see Landowners forced to hand over land Peasants: Actual experience April: Land committees set up New grain requisitioning scheme (provisions) Government forced to authorise use of armed forces against peasants. Workers: Changes hoped to see Improvement in employment, living + working conditions, food shortages Number of strikes: 175,000 by June 1917. Workers: Actual experience Factory committees set up Allowed owners to dismiss workers + refuse 8 hour day, wage rises or condition improvement. Conciliation chambers Soldiers: Changed hoped to see Insufficient trained officers March-May 1917: 365,000 desertions from army Deal with conscription and wartime failures Soldiers: Actual experience Soldiers committees set up Improvement in soldiers positions + reduction in the aristocratic control of army Why did Provisional Gov find it hard to meet people's high hopes for Russia after abdication of the Tsar? No legitimacy Fear of revolution High promises Petrograd Soviet & "Dual authority" Petrograd Soviet: established by Mensheviks met first time at end of February 1917: representing "Soldiers, Sailors and Workers" councils. Represented working class + radical demands nationally Influence over key groups of workers, including power workers, telegraph, railwaymen, army = Provisional Government could not govern without soviet 28th February 1917 Izvestia (Soviet newspaper published first time) stated Soviet wanted to "wipe out the old system completely" + wanted to hold elections for constituent assembly elected on basis of universal suffrage. At first, not a rival of power but watchdog of Revolution. March 1917 Provisional Government and Soviet established alliance in attempt to govern Russia. Period of "Dual authority". Both occupied different wings at Tauride Palace, but pursued different agendas. Fearful of counter-revolution led from the army, leaders of Soviet were concerned to weaken old-fashioned discipline without putting Russia at risk from defeat by the Germans. Army Order No.1 1.In all companies, battalions, regiments, parks, batteries, squadrons and on the vessel of the navy, committees of elected representatives from the lower ranks of the above-mentioned military units shall be chosen immediately. 4.Order of the military commission of the State Duma shall be executed only in such cases as they do not conflict with the orders and resolutions of the Soviet of Workers and Soldier's deputies. 5.Outside service and ranks, in their political and private lives, soldiers cannot in any way be deprived of those rights that all citizens enjoy. Standing at attention and compulsory saluting, when not on duty, are abolished. 6. Addressing of officers with titles "Your excellency" "Your honour" are abolished and replaced with "Mr. General" "Mr. Colonel". Why was Order Number 1 seen as revolutionary? Army works because of hierarchy, this creates committees causing tension. Lack of order and discipline Deprives provisional government of army Alexander Kerensky link between Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet Joined Narodnik movement + worked as a legal counsel of Aid committee to victims of Revolution of 1905 (Bloody Sunday) 1912 elected to the 4th Duma May 1917 appointed Minister of War, July became prime minister Rich + educated, stirring + emotional oratory, his commitment to coalition government Ideal person to bridge 2 political governments. Issues with War Failure of provisional Government to end the war eroded its authority In 1917: May: Protests over decision to continue war = Miliukov + Guchkov resigned June: Failure of Kerensky offensive = July days + forced reconstruction of Provisional Government = Kerensky became Prime Minister. This caused army morale to collapse, + desertions. Continuing war meant key issues not addressed: Difficult to organise elections for a Constituent Assembly: postponements of elections led to suspicions. Elections held in November 1917, but Provisional Government was overthrown at end of October. Impossible to satisfy peasants expectations about redistribution from rich landowners. Feared: peasants in army would desert to not miss out. Redistribution was delayed. Therefore, peasants felt betrayed so increasingly set about unofficially redistributing land without regard to authority of Provisional Government. Workers in Petrograd + other cities expected revolution would bring rewards (better pay, working conditions, control own factories). Some improvements: 8 hour day, legalisation of trade unions happened but difficulties + shortages due to war led to industrial dis otions. Year passed = employers became militant, often locking workers out to force concessions. Disillusioned workers went on strike, increased radicalism + greater support for Bolsheviks. Stop fighting the war altogether For: High casualty end, fuel + food shortages end, inflation end. Against: Losses of land, reparations, lose England + France as allies. Fight a defensive war only For: Keep reparations, land. Against: Casualties, Provisional Government can't address key matters, inflation Continue to fight an offensive war, trying to make gains and seize territory at expense of Germany For: Keep reparations, keep land, money, win. Against: Provisional government can't address key matters, casualties Political impact of war July Days: 3rd July factory workers, soldiers, sailors march from naval base at Kronstadt demanding power to Soviet Attempts to boost morale: turn against Provisional Government Some socialists arrested Kerensky Furious 70,000 workers took part 30 of Lenin's men arrested Lenin blamed but not involved: away from country "Bolsheviks' not a threat" Unrest: people not loyal to Provisional government Has to bring back soldiers from front line What caused the July days? Explosion of frustration and disappointment of the workers, soldiers, sailors with policies of the Provisional Government and continuation of War. How did Provisional Government deal with unrest? Sent 'punishment brigades' into countryside to force requisitions = made case worse Government frightened to act against industrialists Changes to Provisional Government after July Days Miliukov resign Guchkov resign Kerensky becomes Prime minister Optimist views on Provisional Government and WW1 War = costly: impact on land, labour + capital. Provisional Government committed to continue war because had been invested to win Challenges: land distribution, impact on public health due to urbanisation = ignored. War was the priority. Provisional government had limited support from the allies. Pessimist views on Provisional Government and WW1 Reforms slow to come; some nobles only convinced of far-reaching reforms due to success of 'modern' Prussian army 1866-71 Russian empire viewed Provisional Government as variation of tsarist regime. Empire in danger of disintegrating before WW1, new gov struggled to contain demands for autonomy from Finland, Poland and Ukraine (all major agricultural areas) Kerensky's leadership was suspect specifically when dealing with opposition from Kornilov. Not trusted by workers + peasants although had socialist background. Workers already organised + campaigned for economic & social change before war. By 1917, soviets in such strong position, Provisional Government convinced to join to create dual authority. Protest gained momentum over minimum decade = matter of time when proletariat took control of governance of Russia. Peasant uprisings in 1917 March: 49 April: 378 (due to listening to the Bolsheviks) July: 957 August: 760 (due to impact of July days) Provisional Government and the Economy Grain became scarce in cities Peasant disorders prevented restoration of supplies Supply trains travelling into cities stopped and looted in suburbs. Strikes + shortages of raw materials Unemployment rose: Feb-June 100,000 workers sacked Inflation: banks lacked time to cut money Wages rose 70% 1914-16 and lagged Supported owners Price of black bread: 500% increase Price of Pork: 770% increase Price of candles: 1076% increase Nationalities and regions - Poland: granted independence, but occupied by Germany Finland: Finns pressed for removal of Russian troops from soil + independence. Provisional Government didn't resolve issue, but December 1917 Bolshevik Government recognised Finnish independence Ukraine: Ukrainian soviet (Rada) attempted negotiation for independence, but Provisional Government not interested; Ukraine was too valuable. Eventually Rada proclaimed independence and Provisional Government had little choice. Turkestan: Demands for local autonomy culminated in overthrow of Provisional Government's representatives in region in September 1917 How did Provisional Government fail to engage with demands of Russia's minorities? Slow in creating assembly so minorities could express their views causing resentment + call for autonomy Minorities took advantage of 'principles' adopted by Provisional Government which administration of state was to be based. Opposition to the Provisional Government Bolsheviks Marxist ideas spread during 1880-90s due to Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto translated into Russia by Bakunin in 1869, and Das Kapital in 1872. Society went through stages until reached communism Revolutionary groups optimistic as it follows the pattern and is sped up. Lenin Restricted membership + elite 'revolutionary' force 2 revolutions simultaneously Educate workers Decisions made by general committee 'Pravda' newspaper published in May 1914 1916: only 8000 members and most leaders in prison or exile. First meeting broken by Okhrana Strengths of Bolsheviks: Built power base amongst industrial workers Established own newspaper (Pravda) - collapsed then reopened Collective desire of leaving war Strong leaders Weaknesses of Bolsheviks Leadership in prison or exile (absent) Divided (internally) Unknown outside of cities Watched by Okhrana Blamed for causing July Days but only joined Mensheviks: Trotsky Workers to lead revolution Membership open to all interested Democracy within the party Lenin's April Thesis "Peace, bread and land": exactly what people needed and wanted = more peasant uprisings. Didn't want war The council (Soviet of Workers' Deputies) is a dictatorship of the proletariat. Will educate of government's failures Lenin never in country = not know + no control over street cadres. Why did Germany allow Lenin to return to Russia? Lenin wanted to end war = Germany would lose an enemy "sealed shut" train so wouldn't spread Marxist ideas How much progress did Bolsheviks make by the end of June? Membership increased from 26,000 to 200,000 April thesis Use Pravda Use red guard Why did the Bolsheviks fail to capitalise on unrest of July Days? Blamed for causing July Days Bolsheviks rumoured that they received money from Germany = lost Pravda, army and leaders but gained credibility from workers. How was the party continuing to strengthen its position spite of July days? Propaganda Intimidation of opponents Packing of committees 'Management' of factory and district elections Encouraged land seizures amongst peasants Kornilov affair 1917: Attempted military coup Lavr Kornilova made attempt to seize power for himself. Army advanced on Petrograd - Kerensky (Prime minister) called Petrograd Soviet to defend city Bolsheviks infiltrated Kornilov's troops and encouraged to desert + organised strikes by railway workers = disrupting Kornilov's supplies + communications Marked increase in support for the Bolsheviks Role of Trotsky in October Revolution Supported Lenin's idea of seizing power through armed uprising when other Bolshevik leaders were cautious Planned details of seizure of power in Petrograd. Aimed at taking over key buildings in city. Organised Bolshevik Red Guard, took responsibility for recruitment and discipline. Co-ordinated military operations through Military revolutionary Committee. Great speaker, able to motivate Bolshevik supporters to carry out their actions. Was an inspiration through his unflagging energy.