Download - Why Did the Russian Provisional Government Fail in 1917

7/29/2019 Why Did the Russian Provisional Government Fail in 1917

1/4

Why did the Russian Provisional Government fail

in 1917?

The Russian Provisional Government failed in 1917 for a variety of reasons. Perhaps most

importantly, they refused to end the countrys involvement in World War One. Due to the

governments preoccupation with winning that War, many economic and social problems were

overlooked or ignored. Institutions known collectively as The Soviet were also attempting to gain

more power. They didnt want to run the government, but they did want greater autonomy for the

workers. In effect, they sucked power away from the Provisional Government. These issues and

several others led to the failure of the Provisional Government and the seizure of power by the

Bolsheviks in October of 1917.

The Russian Provisional Government was formed in the aftermath of Tsar Nicholas IIs abdication

from the throne on March 2, 1917. After Nicholas departure, the Duma was the only real legal

authority left to run the country. Out of this body the Provisional Government was formed by a

coalition of various Duma parties. It was intended to be an interim body to hold power until the

Constituent Assembly could be called and a constitution could be written.[1] Headed first by Prince

G. E. Lvov, the new government saw as its primary task as winning the War, only then would other

issues be dealt with.

Massive economic and social problems, inefficient decision making by the Tsar, as well as Russias

high casualty rate in World War One had led to the collapse of autocracy. The Duma, which had

pressed for gradual liberalization of the country, was headed mostly by the Octobrists and the

Kadets, the center-right political parties. This was by design, as the electorate had been severely

restricted so that only those two parties could win a majority. They were tasked with preparing the

country for national elections and the Constituent Assembly. This would require granting full

freedom of speech, press, assembly, and religion, and equality to all citizens.[2]

However, there was another body claiming power as well, the Soviet. They claimed to represent the

peasants and workers interests. They provided services for workers and sailors. This Dual Power

created a complex system of authority that did not function efficiently. The Provisional Government

might have had authority, but it was unclear whether or not they had power. Whether or not the

population would follow them was not known. The Soviet, on the other hand, held true sway with

the workers and peasants.

The soviets were formed as workers councils, and were made up of both common people and the

intelligentsia. They worked to secure rights for workers and after March 1917, they sought to

protect the gains made by the first Revolution. The Petrograd Soviet was the head of a nationwide

network of soviets that were located throughout Russia. Far more radical than the Duma, they were

composed mostly of Socialist Revolutionaries and Social-Democrats.[3] The Petrograd Soviet also

included many of the soldiers stationed in the citys garrison and sailors stationed at the nearby

naval base of Kronstadt.

At first the soviets and the Provisional Government coexisted rather peacefully and the Petrograd

Soviet approved of the new governments policies. However, as time went on, they began to fight


2/4

for control over the military and foreign policy. Order Number 1, issued by the Petrograd Soviets

army section, authorized army units to elect soldiers to represent them in the soviets. It also stated

that army units did not have to obey orders given by the Government unless those orders were

approved by the Soviet first.[4]

In 1917 the majority of the Russian Army was made up of peasants, who were confused as to what

exactly they were fighting for. With no clear motivation to fight or stake in victory, they made a poor

fighting force. While many of the soldiers continued to fight on the Front, they were more loyal to

the soviets than the Provisional Government. This was because the soviets were calling for the

nationalization of land. It seemed to most of the peasantry that the soviets were fighting for their

interests while the Provisional Government was simply continuing the policies of autocracy.

The new government felt it had to fulfill its obligations to the Allies and continue the war and fight

for lasting peace through victory. The Provisional Government was immediately recognized by the

Allied forces. Secret treaties signed by the government implemented a new expansionist war policy,

hoping to gain territory in the Ukraine and Austria-Hungary. The soviets protested this by calling for

the European workers to overthrow their governments and achieve a just and democratic peace

without annexations and indemnities. [5]

In April of 1917 Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Bolsheviks, returned to Russia from exile in Switzerland.

His new tactic was no confidence or support to the new government, primarily because they were

continuing the War. In time, he would sway most of the Bolshevik leadership to his line of thinking.

In his April Theses, published shortly after his return, he denounced any cooperation with the new

government. Lenin states, the war on Russias part remains a predatory imperialist war.[6] Due

to this fact, the soviets must not support the ongoing war and must completely break off any

support for the Provisional Government.

Later in the Theses, Lenin explains, It must be explained to the masses that the Soviet of Workers

Deputies is the only possible form of revolutionary governmenttherefore, our task is, while this

government is submitting to the influence of the bourgeoisie, to present apersistent analysis of its

errors and tactics[7] No support for the Provisional Government and All Power to The Soviets!

were the two principles of the April Theses. While not a majority in the Soviet yet, the Bolsheviks

were gaining influence.

While the Provisional Government was preoccupied with winning the War, the countrys economic

and social problems began to grow worse. In three [domestic] areas in particular the governmentsresponse was found wanting: the nationality question, the agrarian crisis, and industrial relations.

Russia had been a large, multiethnic empire and now the various nationalities were demanding

autonomy. Disagreements about how to handle the nationality question led to the fall of Lvovs

government on July 15. [8]

The second pressing domestic issue, the agrarian crisis, was growing worse with time. Immediately

after the Tsars abdication, and in the power vacuum that followed, peasants began seizing the land

of nobles in the countryside. Many peasant soldiers deserted their posts to go back home and

participate in the land grabbing. The Provisional Government, fearful of even more peasants


3/4

deserting the army, refused to implement any sort of land reform. Their inaction made the problem

worse because now the peasantry had no reason to support the new government.

The third domestic issue was that of industrial relations which had been an ongoing problem for

some time. As Russia began to industrialize in the early 1900s, the population of industrial workers,

especially in Petrograd and Moscow, exploded. Most of the manufacturing was centered on these

two cities. Low wages, inflation, lack of work, lack of adequate housing and food was making life

increasingly harsh for the factory workers. In industry workers began to organize factory

committees to defend themselves and to keep the factories open in the fact of economic disruption

and lockouts.[9]

One reason that the Provisional Government did not settle many of these domestic issues was

because they wanted to wait for the Constituent Assembly. Realizing that most of the people would

only accept the legitimacy of a government elected by that assembly, they put off many issues until

it could be convened. It was scheduled to open in January 1918.

Alexander Kerensky emerged as the new leader of the Provisional Government after Lvovs exit.

Kerensky was a moderate socialist who believed that the goal of the new government was to finish

the agenda set by autocracy.[10] He was the only person to be involved in both the leadership of the

soviet and the Provisional Government and it put him in a precarious position. While the Soviet had

forbid any of its members in participating in the new government, they made an exception for

Kerensky.

In July 1917, a failed Bolshevik uprising led to the imprisonment of most of the partys leadership

and Lenin once again fled the country, this time to Finland. It appeared as though the Bolsheviks

were now eliminated as a threat to the Provisional Government. However, a chain of events wouldsoon see them released.

On August 26 General L.G. Kornilov of the military high command called for the surrender of the

Provisional Government. In place of that government he planned to install a military

dictatorship.[11] It is unclear whether or not Kornilov himself would have headed this government,

but it was a threat nonetheless. He threatened to have his troops march on Petrograd, if the

Provisional Government did not surrender.

Kerensky, frightened that the capital might be seized by Kornilovs forces, asked the Petrograd Soviet

for help. The Soviet agrees on the condition that all their comrades are freed, including the

Bolsheviks. The workers of the Soviet were armed and made into units of Red Guards. Kornilov

was moving his troops by rail, and since the Bolsheviks had influence with the railway workers, they

simply had the trains stopped so that Kornilov and his men could be arrested.

The Bolsheviks were seen as heroes after this incident and it further weakened Kerenskys

government.[12] In September they finally gained a majority in the Soviet and Lenin, finally back

from Finland, realized that the time to seize power was close at hand. He pushed the leadership in

Petrograd to seize power immediately. By October, it was clear that Kerenskys attempts to form a

third coalition and maintain power were failing. There were too many political parties and they

could not agree on any policies moving forward.[13]


4/4

The continuing devastation of the War and the Provisional Governments refusal to end it was the

key issue in bringing about its collapse. They had tried to shift tactics in war propaganda, now billing

the conflict as a struggle against German autocracy. The soldiers, however, didnt buy it. In the

industrial centers of the country, Moscow and Petrograd, unrest over the War was steadily growing

just as it had earlier that year in February. The situation was growing from bad to worse. Kerenskys

offensive had failed; the Germans were gaining more ground by the day. This further eroded any

support the government might have had left. It was clear that they were ineffective on both foreign

and domestic issues.

This ineffectiveness left the door open for a new force to gain power. The only coherent policy

alternatives being offered were those of the Bolsheviks. On the night of November 6, they made

their move and soldiers from the Petrograd garrison seized government buildings and stormed the

headquarters of the Provisional Government at the Winter Palace.[14] This would end the freest

period in Russias history and lead to a dictatorship of epic consequences.

In the end, it was the continuation of an unpopular, offensive and expansionist war that led to the

Provisional Governments failure. Instead of trying to forge a new road ahead following the March

Revolution, the new government instead went on with business as usual. They did not implement

the reforms necessary to win the support of the population. They thought that overnight, after the

first revolution, Russia had been transformed and an era of democracy would ensue. Without a

government willing to actually change policy, it was perhaps doomed from the beginning.

Download - Why Did the Russian Provisional Government Fail in 1917

Top Related