Provisional government

• The PG consisted of a cabinet of ministers

  • Prince Lvov - prime minister
  • Milyukov - Foreign minister and leader of cadets
  • Guchkov - war minister and leader of octobrists
  • Kerensky - minster of justice and a social revolutionary
• PG reforms

  • freedom of religion
  • freedom of speech
  • recognition of trade unions
  • introduction of 8-hour day for workers
  • promise of an elected parliament
  • abolishment of secret police
  • amnesty for political prisoners
• problems faced be PG

  • not an elected body and did not represent the people of Russia
  • defeats in the war
  • soldiers deserting
  • peasants were looting property of landlords
  • soldiers and workers setting up elected councils (soviets)
  • people wanted an end to food shortages
  • Pols and Finns hoped for independence
• Formation of the Petrograd soviet meant dual control over Russia. By early March they had around 3,000 elected members.
• dual authority caused problems

  • the Soviet became influenced by the Bolsheviks, they did not want to continue the war and wanted Germany pushed out of Russia
  • the provisional government was prepared to continue the war, they wanted the French and British allies and support of generals. concerned about the heavy demands Germany would make.
• to continue the war Kerensky visited troops and convinced them to support a new June offensive. it failed and 60,000 people were killed and more deserted.
• to stir up rebellion and create unrest Germany sent back exiled revolutionaries (Lenin ) into Russia.
• Lenin arrived in Petrograd April 1917, he wanted to overthrow the PG, but he faced accusations that he was a German spy in pay of the enemy. however Lenin was unconcerned he had returned and had enough movement to fund his rebellion.
• when Lenin arrived he promised the April thesis would be implemented.

  • end to the war
  • power passed from middle to working class
  • all land to the peasants
  • police and army abolished
  • banks, factories and transport nationalised
  • bolsheviks take control of soviets
• after the April thesis support for the bolsheviks grew. went from 24,000 in febuary to 100,000 in April