1. The Formation and Nature of the Provisional Government

• When was the Petrograd Soviet and the Provisional Government formed?

  27th February 1917
• When was Soviet Order Number One?

  1st March 1917
• What did Soviet Order Number One state?

  Answers:

  • Each regiment was to elect representatives to the Soviet.
  • Officer titles were to be abolished.
  • Weapons were to be under the control of soldiers' committees.
  • The ultimate control of the army was to lie with the Soviet.
• Why did the leaders of the Soviet turn down the chance to form a government?

  Answers:

  • They didn't think that the time was right for the workers to form the government according to Marx's communism timeline.
  • They wanted to avoid civil war and a counter revolution, wanting to keep the middle classes and the army commanders.
  • They were not sure they could control the masses, and that if they became the government, the same anger would be turned toward them.
• When was the composition of the new Provisional Government announced?

  2nd March 1917
• What was the composition of the new Provisional Government?

  Answers:

  • Prince Lvov was Prime Minister.
  • The leader of the Kadets, Miliukov, was included.
  • Also included Kerensky, a socialist, who was also in the Soviet.
• When did the Grand Prince Michael refuse the throne?

  3rd March 1917
• What was the problem with Dual Authority between the Petrograd Soviet and the Provisional Government?

  Answers:

  • Since the Provisional Government believed that it was only temporary, it could legitimately use state power only in the interests of the state: defending the country, reviving the economy, mediating social conflicts, and convening the Constituent Assembly.
  • The government had formal authority but limited power, while the Soviet had the real power but no formal responsibility.
• What was the problem with Dual Authority between the Petrograd Soviet and the Provisional Government (card two)?

  Answers:

  • Thousands of new organisations- political parties, trade unions, professional and nationality-based associations, and educational and cultural clubs- came into existence after February 1917 and asserted their right to participate in public affairs in a way never possible before. This further undermined, rather than bolstered, the central government's authority.
• When was the first coalition Provisional Government in charge?

  March 1917-May 1917
• What did Prince Lvov (Prime Minister of the first coalition) believe?

  Answers:

  • He was the leader of the Progressive Bloc.
  • Joined the Kadets in 1905.
  • Highly critical of the Tsar during the war.
  • Supported the continuation of the war, but favoured a decentralisation system of government in Russia.
  • Refused to take action against the Bolsheviks and resigned in July 1917.
• What did Miliukov (Foreign Minister of the first coalition) believe?

  Answers:

  • Founder of the Kadets and key figure in the Progressive Bloc.
  • Made the famous speech 'Is This Folly or Treason?'
  • Favoured a constitutional monarchy along British lines.
  • Supported the war and Russia's wartime allies.
  • Responsible for the Miliukov Note, promising to wage war as long as necessary but making it clear Russia was still looking for territorial gains.
  • Resigned in May 1917.
• What did Kerensky (Minister of Justice and vice-chairman of the Petrograd Soviet of the first coalition) believe?

  Answers:

  • Had been a Trudovik, but joined the Social Revolutionary Party in February 1917.
  • Became Minister of War in May 1917 after the war aims crisis planned the failed June Offensive.
  • Became Prime Minister in July 1917 following the July Days.
  • As a moderate socialist, he saw himself as the 'bridge' between the liberals and the socialists.
• What did Guchkov (Minister for War and navy for the first coalition) believe?

  Answers:

  • Wealthy industrialist and founder of the Octobrists.
  • Was Chairman of the Central War Industry Committee from 1915, and one of the founder members of the Progressive Bloc.
  • Travelled to Pskov as part of the delegation requesting the Tsar's abdication.
  • Resigned over the war aims criss.
  • Favoured 'strong government' and supported Kornilov in August 1917.
• When was the second coalition government in the Provisional Government in power?

  May 1917-July 1917
• What did Tsereteli (Minister for Post and Telegraph in the second coalition government) believe?

  Answers:

  • Was a Menshevik.
  • Had a role in the Petrograd Soviet.
  • Didn't want to join the Petrograd Soviet since he argued it would raise expectations amongst ordinary Russians, which were bound to be disappointed.
  • He thought that popular support for moderate socialism would shift to the left (such as the Bolsheviks).
• What did Chernov (member of the second coalition in the Provisional Government) believe?

  Answers:

  • Was Minister for Agriculture.
  • Leader of the Socialist Revolutionaries.
  • Had arrived back in Russia from exile in April.
• What did Tereschenko (Foreign Minister of the second coalition of the Provisional Government) believe?

  Answers:

  • Associated with the Progressive Party, a small group of liberals who had supported the Kadets in the pre-revolutionary Dumas.
  • He saw himself as non-party and trying to build bridges with the socialists.
• When was the third coalition of the Provisional Government in power?

  July 1917-September 1917
• When was the third coalition of the Provisional Government formed?

  24th July 1917
• What was the composition of the third coalition of the Provisional Government?

  Answers:

  • Its members were mostly socialist, and belonged to the Menshevik and Socialist Revolutionary Party.
  • Its members included prominent socialists, such as Tsereteli (who was Minister of the Interior) and Chernov (Minister of Agriculture).
  • Kerensky was Prime Minister.
• When was the fourth coalition of the Provisional Government in power?

  25th September 1917-8th October 1917
• What was the alternate name for the fourth coalition of the Provisional Government?

  The Directorate
• What were the events surrounding the establishment of the fourth coalition of the Provisional Government?

  Answers:

  • Formed by Kerensky as an emergency coalition to deal with the aftermath of the Kornilov Affair.
  • Following the dissolution of the Directorate, a further fifth coalition was formed, but, by this stage, the Bolsheviks had already taken the decision to seize power.