The February Revolution and Rise of Dual Power (1917)

The February Revolution of 1917 marked the end of the Romanov dynasty and established a unique system of dual authority between the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet. This revolution was notably not led by the Bolsheviks but emerged from a combination of war-weariness, economic crisis, and loss of faith in Tsar Nicholas II's leadership.

Quote: "The February Revolution represented not a revolution from below, but a failure of leadership and nerve at the top."

The Provisional Government faced immediate challenges, particularly regarding Russia's continued participation in World War I. Lenin's return in April 1917 and his "April Theses" set the stage for the Bolshevik rise to power, promising "Peace, Bread, and Land" to a war-weary population. The period of dual power ultimately proved unstable, leading to the October Revolution and the establishment of Bolshevik rule.

The Rise and Fall of Kerensky's Provisional Government in Revolutionary Russia

The period between February and October 1917 marked a crucial transition in Russia autocracy to communism as Alexander Kerensky attempted to maintain control of the Provisional Government. As War Minister and later Prime Minister, Kerensky faced mounting challenges that would ultimately contribute to the Bolshevik rise to power, making this period essential for understanding What caused the Russian Revolution.

The Kerensky Offensive of June 1917 proved disastrous for the Provisional Government's authority. This military campaign, intended to reinvigorate Russia's war effort, instead exposed deep fractures within the army. Widespread desertion and mutiny, fueled by Bolshevik agitation, demonstrated the government's weakening grip on power. This failure particularly illuminates why Tsar Nicholas II lose power created a vacuum that even the Provisional Government couldn't fill.

Definition: The Kerensky Offensive was a major military campaign launched in June 1917 that aimed to boost Russian morale but instead hastened the revolution's progress.

The land question remained a critical issue that the Provisional Government failed to address effectively. Since the 1861 Emancipation of Serfs, peasant unrest over land ownership had simmered. The February Revolution intensified these demands, leading to widespread seizure of aristocratic estates in what amounted to a national peasant revolt. The Provisional Government's reluctance to redistribute land, given that many of its members came from the landowning class, created an opportunity for the Bolsheviks to gain rural support.

The July Days crisis further exposed the government's vulnerabilities. Street demonstrations, triggered by military failures and political disputes, challenged the Provisional Government's authority. Though the uprising was suppressed, it revealed both the government's remaining strength and the Bolsheviks' limitations at that time. This period provides crucial context for understanding tsarist and communist russia 1855-1964.

The Kornilov Affair and the Bolshevik Opportunity

The Kornilov Affair of 1917 marked a turning point in the Russian Revolution timeline, creating conditions that would ultimately favor the Bolsheviks. General Lavr Kornilov, as Commander-in-Chief, represented conservative forces seeking to crush socialist influence, particularly targeting Lenin and the Soviets. This episode provides essential context for understanding OCR A Level History Russia revision.

Highlight: The Kornilov Affair inadvertently strengthened the Bolsheviks by forcing Kerensky to arm revolutionary forces to defend Petrograd, including releasing imprisoned Bolshevik leaders.

Amid growing disorder in Petrograd, exacerbated by refugee influx and fears of anarchy, Kornilov attempted to seize control. His march on Petrograd, ostensibly to "save" the Provisional Government, prompted Kerensky to declare martial law and arm civilian defenders. Railway workers' successful obstruction of Kornilov's advance on September 1st demonstrated the power of organized labor in revolutionary Russia.

The aftermath of the Kornilov Affair proved crucial for the Bolsheviks' rise to power. Having received weapons from the government they opposed and gained popularity as defenders of the revolution, the Bolsheviks emerged stronger than ever. This episode exemplifies the complex political dynamics covered in AQA Tsarist and Communist Russia studies, showing how the Provisional Government's attempts to maintain power ultimately contributed to its downfall.