Russia under Dual Authority

• Provisional Government = Set up during Feb Rev 1917 after the abdication of the Tsar. Led by Prince Lvov. Duma representatives. 
• Petrograd Soviet= Set up during Feb 1917. A group of workers based in Petrograd. Mainly comprised of radicals (eg. SRs, Bolsheviks and Mensheviks). Issued Order No 1 to ensure they had control of the army.  
• The soviet lacked confidence to gain complete control so agreed to accept the provisional gov authority until a new constitution could be drawn up
• The arrangement between the two was known as Dual authority of Dual Power.
• Promises made under the dual authority :

  • Amnesty for political prisoners.
  • Basic civil liberties.
  • The right to organise trade unions and go on strike.
  • Freedom of religion and press.
  • Abolished the death penalty.
• provisional gov consisted of - kadets, liberals and their general policy was to delay elections until war was won. - they worked with soviets but opposed bolsheviks
• petrograd soviet - committee of workers and soldiers - their policy was to cooperate with prov gov and wait for a revolution
• Bolsheviks - was led by lenin who was marxist - they didnt like the prov gov and had no cooperation with them and wanted the soviet to take power
• 
  

  Provisional gov -

  Continue the war in the hope of victory, allies, territorial gains
• 
  

  Petrograd soviet -

  Continue a defensive war - do not want peace at any cost (e.g. annexations)
•  

  Bolsheviks -

  End the war immediately – it was an imperialist war that benefited the capitalists
• prov gov and soviets waited for constituent assembly to decide/ re distribute land to peasants.
• Bolsheviks wanted an immediate land distribution
• why did the provisional gov fail - They decided to carry on with war
• why did they fail (membership) - Leaders were associated with the middle class. They were not seen as having anything in common with the working class, therefore, how could they possibly represent them?
• why did they fail (membership) -

  • Kerensky was unable to establish and maintain control in Russia. He was not well respected. Disliked for wanting to continue the war effort. 
• why did they fail (war) -

  • Russians began to turn against the government as they wanted war and instead support Lenin who promised “peace, bread, land”. 
  • Soldiers came to hate the Provisional Government. There were naval mutinies.