2. Problems Faced by the Provisional Government

• When was the Constantinople Agreement?

  18th March 1915
• What did the Constantinople Agreement state?

  Answers:

  • Great Britain and France promised to give Russia Constantinople, the Dardenelles Straits, and land either side of the Bosphorus Strait to Russia in the event of an Allied victory against the Ottoman Empire.
  • This would give Russia unhindered access to the Mediterranean Sea and was of immense economic and military value.
• What did Miliukov believe regarding the war?

  He believed that the Revolution did not affect Russia's foreign policy needs; Russia should continue to fight the war alongside its allies and benefit from the Constantinople Agreement.
• What did the leaders of the Petrograd Soviet believe regarding the war?

  They disagreed with Miliukov's claims, and instead issued an appeal to all the workers of Europe to unite in peace, while at the same time promising that 'the Russian revolution... will not allow itself to be crushed by foreign military service'.
• What did Tsereteli believe regarding the war?

  He wanted to work with the Provisional Government to renounce all imperalist war aims and work towards a negotiated peace. He and the Soviet Petrograd adopted the slogan 'peace without annexations'.
• When did the Provisional Government release its official war statement?

  It was agreed on the 27th March 1917, and sent to the Allies on the 18th April 1917.
• What did the Miliukov Note state?

  Answers:

  • 'The aspiration of the entire nation to carry the world war to a decisive victory has grown more powerful'.
  • 'The Provisional Government, while safeguarding the rights of our own country, will in every way observe the obligations assumed toward our Allies'.
• What were the impacts of the Miliukov Note?

  Answers:

  • It was interpreted that Russia was continuing to pursue the same war aims as under the Tsar. It was contrary to the wishes of the majority of the population and ordinary soldiers.
  • Protests erupted on the 20th April 1917. The Provisional Government was worried about civil war and hastily issued a statement clarifying the meaning of the note, confirming that it was fighting a defensive war.
  • Miliukov and Guchkov resigned and there was a new formation of a new Provisional Government cabinet, with more representation from the socialists.
• What were the first actions of the Provisional Government to do with Tsarist officials?

  Answers:

  • Tsarist ministers and officials were arrested and imprisoned. The police put themselves under arrest, which was a desperate move to stop the workers and soldiers from pulling them to pieces.
  • The secret police was disbanded.
• What were the first actions of the Provisional Government to do with civil liberties?

  Answers:

  • The first decree of the Provisional Government (worked out with the Soviet) granted an amnesty for political and religious prisoners, and established freedom of the press and freedom of speech.
  • The death penalty was abolished.
  • Discrimination on social, religious, or national grounds was made illegal.
• What were the first actions of the Provisional Government to do with constitutional change?

  Answers:

  • They promised it would arrange for elections for a Constituent Assembly that would determine the future government.
  • These elections were to be done by secret ballot and universal suffrage.
• What were the first actions of the Provisional Government to do with labour relations?

  Answers:

  • Soldiers were satisfied since it was agreed that soldiers in the Petrograd garrison would not be sent to the Front.
  • The workers were happy since they had secured the right to strike, organise trade unions, an eight-hour working day, and the recognition of factory committees.
• When did Lenin return to Russia?

  April 1917
• What did Lenin call for in his April Theses?

  Answers:

  • He promised peace, bread, and land.
  • He called for a workers' revolution, all power to the Soviets, an end to the war, and no co-operation with the Provisional Government.
• Why would the April Theses appeal to the Russian people?

  Answers:

  • They didn't the war to continue, as it was burdening the domestic situation with a lack of resources.
  • The Provisional Government soon became weak and ineffective.
  • The workers and peasants were also becoming more politically conscious and engaged, with Lenin attempting to directly appease these two specific groups.
  • He offers a more radical solution to a problem the government was not seen to be dealing with.
• What were the differences between Lenin and the leaders of the Mensheviks and the Socialist Revolutionaries?

  Answers:

  • Lenin argued that the Bolsheviks should not support the Provisional Government. Instead, they should lead the people into a second revolution.
  • Lenin's ideas differed from the ideas put forward by Marx. Lenin's unique interpretation of Marxism was called 'telescopic revolution'.
• What were the fundamental beliefs of Lenin's telescopic revolution?

  Answers:

  • A second revolution in Russia must be led by a small group of dedicated revolutionaries, who were needed to inspire the workers.
  • The revolution could happen when there was a period of conflict between the capitalist, imperialist powers. A workers' revolution could start in an under-developed country, but would survive only if revolution spread to more advanced industrial.
  • Revolution could only happen if there was an alliance between the workers and the peasants who had their own history of revolutionary action.
• What were the causes of the June Offensive?

  Answers:

  • Britain and France had requested strongly that Russia attack on the Eastern Front to take the pressure off their forces in the West, and so Russia had to fulfil their treaty obligations to the Allies. It would also put them in a better place for peace negotiations.
  • Still a strong nationalist and patriotic element to Russian society across classes. The Kadets thought that a successful offensive might put the generals and officers back in control of the armed forces, and that they might be able to then bring the revolution under control.
• What took place during the June Offensive?

  Answers:

  • The Russians attacked Austro-Hungarian troops in Galicia and initially made good progress by exploiting gaps in the Austrian lines.
  • Attacks against the Germans were less successful, with Russia suffering heavy casualties and high desertions (men even killed their own officers).
  • The advance collapsed after 2 weeks. Shortly afterwards, the Germans and the Austro-Hungarians counter-attacked.
  • 21 days after the launch of the offensive, the Germans and Austrians had broken through Russian lines, causing them to retreat 150 miles.
• How did the Provisional Government tackle the problem of land?

  Answers:

  • The government were not willing to simply hand over the land to the peasants. They were not against land redistribution, but wanted it to be done within the framework of the law set down by the Constituent Assembly, and also wanted landowners to be compensated.
  • They were also concerned that a land free-for-all would lead to the disintegration of the army as peasant soldiers rushed back to claim their share. As the summer wore on, they began taking more land, as well as livestock, tools, and timber from private estates.
• What were the ideas of Chernov (Minister of Agriculture)?

  Answers:

  • He wanted to try a alternative whereby peasants would be empowered to use land from private estates (with ownership to be sorted later), but the liberals blocked this. 237 cases of land seizures were reported in July.
  • Socialist Revolutionaries failed to understand that the peasant demand for land reform could not be delayed until the Constituent Assembly met.
• What national minority demands faced the Provisional Government?

  Answers:

  • The Finns and the Poles called for outright independence.
  • The Caucasus region wanted more autonomy.
  • The Ukrainians demanded self-government.
• How did the Provisional Government respond to national minority demands?

  Answers:

  • Ukraine was a big problem, since it was an area of immense value to the Russians, containing the most valuable farmland in the old empire and being very near to the Front.
  • The moderate socialists gave moderate concessions to Ukraine.
  • This outraged the liberals, who saw it as the first step towards the break-up of Russia. They believed that for Russia to stay a great power, it had to keep all the regions together in one centrally governed state.
• How many factories in Petrograd closed down between February and July 1917?

  568
• How many jobs were lost due to the shutting down of factories in Petrograd?

  100,000
• What economic problems faced the Provisional Government?

  Answers:

  • Food shortages, unemployment, and high prices continued, with the railway system showing signs of breaking down. Shortages of fuel and raw materials led to factories cutting output or closing and laying off workers. The harvest of 1917 was very poor.
  • The war meant that resources were channelled for the army. There was growing class antagonism between employers and workers, who wanted higher wages, better working conditions, shorter hours, and more influence. Wages were worthless and employers were using lock-outs.
• How did the Provisional Government deal with the economic issues?

  Answers:

  • The government increased the price it paid for grain by 100%. They were unwilling to sell their grain as there were few goods to buy, and those that were available had inflated prices. Grain prices doubled between February and June 1917. The government sent punishment brigades into the countryside to requisition grain.
  • Workers demanded price controls, no speculation, and the arrest of profiteers. The liberals were under pressure from industrialists not to interfere with prices, and would not act against them.
• What took place in the July Days?

  Answers:

  • Mounting frustration of workers and soldiers erupted into rioting in Petrograd.
  • By 4th July 1917, the rioters had been joined by 20,000 armed sailors from the radical naval base at Kronstadt, who demanded that the Petrograd Soviet seize power immediately.
  • The rioters were joined by middle-ranking Bolsheviks, but Lenin thought time was not right for revolution and did not provide them with leadership.
  • Kerensky was able to use the army to put down the protest, and leading Bolsheviks (like Trotsky) were arrested + imprisoned. Lenin fled to Finland.
• Who was General Kornilov?

  Answers:

  • He was appointed by Kerensky as commander-in-chief of the Russian armed forces in August 1917.
  • He was the son of a Siberian Cossack (loyal to the Tsar), and was liked and respected by his soldiers.
  • He was adopted by right-wing conservatives in Petrograd who saw him as their main hope in turning the tables on the revolutionary parties.
  • He claimed his aim was to eliminate German spies and disperse the Soviet.
• What were the causes of the Kornilov Revolt?

  Answers:

  • The army was beginning to disintegrate, with soldiers deserting, seizing trains, and throwing the railway network into chaos.
  • Peasants continued to seize land and violence in the countryside rose.
  • The Petrograd Soviet was losing support, so Kerensky asked Kornilov to bring troops to Petrograd to help him restore order.
• What were Kornilov's objectives in the Kornilov Revolt?

  Answers:

  • He saw Kerensky's request as an opportunity to crush the socialists and construct a right wing government.
  • He intended to use his troops to take control of Kerensky and the Provisional Government, rather than restore order as he had been asked.
  • However, most people in Russia did not want a right-wing government and Kornilov did not have support.
• What took place during the Kornilov Revolt?

  Answers:

  • Kerensky called on the Petrograd Soviet for support in defeating Kornilov and released the Bolsheviks from prison and allowed them to arm themselves to defend Petrograd.
  • However, these moves were unnecessary since railway workers prevented Kornilov and his men from entering Petrograd.
  • Kornilov was arrested.
• What was the impact of the Kornilov Revolt on the Bolsheviks?

  Answers:

  • They were now released from prison and were given permission to carry arms. They retained these weapons and formed a Military Revolutionary Committee (controlled by Trotsky), with the stated aim of defending Petrograd.
  • They were seen as heroes and won a majority in the Petrograd Soviet, with Trotsky elected chairman on the 25th September 1917.
  • Kerensky and other revolutionary parties were discredited due to their role in the revolt.
• What was the impact of the Kornilov Revolt on the Bolsheviks (card two)?

  Answers:

  • The mass of the people completely distrusted the Kadets and had lost faith in the other socialist parties. They turned to the Bolsheviks as the only alternative party prepared to fight for the 'revolution'.
  • Bolshevik support in the Soviet increased. On the 9th September 1917, they won a majority of the seats in the Petrograd Soviet, as well as in Moscow.
  • On 25th September 1917, Trotsky was elected chairman of the Petrograd Soviet.
• What was the impact of the Kornilov Revolt on the Provisional Government?

  Answers:

  • Kerensky's personal reputation was shattered.
  • Menshevik and Social Revolutionary leaders were also discredited by their association with Kerensky and involvement in the Provisional Government.
  • Soldiers in Petrograd felt they had been betrayed by an 'officers' plot' and it became clear that the government could no longer rely on troops in Petrograd to remain loyal.
  • The growing disillusionment felt by workers and peasants at the government's failure to meet their grievances came to a climax.