The Failure of the Government

The Establishment of the Provisional Government

Many moderates hoped that the creation of a republic would lead Russia to become a democracy. This was not the case, and by October, a dictatorship had been established in Russia.

The Duma

The chairman of the committee which became the provisional government was Mikhail Rodzianko.
The Duma (parliament) met in the Tauride Palace. Rodzianko also allowed the Mensheviks (one of the revolutionary parties) to hold the meeting of the Petrograd Soviet in the palace.

The Petrograd Soviet

In Petrograd, the country’s most radical city, the workers and mutineers from the military elected representatives to the Petrograd Soviet.
A Soviet was a committee of workers, soldiers and peasants who had moved to the cities. Many revolutionary left wing groups believed that Russia should be organised into Soviets.

The Provisional Government and war

On 2nd March 1917, the Provisional Government was formally established.
The new government decided to continue Russia’s involvement in the war. This was to keep the support of Britain and France, who were allied with Russia.
The government also needed the support of Russian generals.

The government and the Soviets

Under a system known as ‘Dual Control’, power was shared between the Provisional Government and the Soviets. The Soviets looked to the Petrograd Soviet for leadership.
The Provisional Government control lots of important national services. The rail system and the postal and telegraph services were in the hands of the workers under the Soviets.
The Petrograd Soviet even had its own newspaper (‘Izvestya’) and control of food supplies. Some military units overthrew their officers, and elected soldiers to the Soviets.

Alexander Kerensky

In March 1917, the ‘Central Executive Committee’ was set up to represent the views of all the Soviets and the worker and soldier representatives.
Alexander Kerensky was the first Minister of Justice in the Provisional Government and became Minister of War in May 1917. He was also a member of the Petrograd Soviet, and a moderate socialist.
The June 1917 offensive failed, and Kerensky was chosen to replace Prince Lvov as Minister-Chairman of the Provisional Government.

Military Problems

Continuing the war turned out to be a mistake. Many soldiers were angry that Russia had not surrendered. Kerensky lost the support of officers by reducing their power.

Order Number 1

On 1 March 1917, ‘Order Number 1’ was issued by the soldiers of the Petrograd garrison. It demanded that all military orders by the Provisional Government needed the approval of the Petrograd Soviet.
- This undermined the Provisional Government during the period of Dual Control.

Discipline in the army

Discipline in the army was controlled by councils of soldiers and not by officers:
- “The orders of the military commission of the State Duma [i.e. the Provisional Government] shall be executed [carried out] only in such cases as they do not conflict with the orders and resolutions of the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies [Petrograd Soviet].”

1The End of Tsardom

1.1Russia's Economy & Society

1.1.1Industrialisation

1.1.2Living & Working Conditions

1.2Nicholas II's Autocracy & the Court

1.2.1Growth of Revolutionary Opposition

1.2.2The 1905 Revolution & the October Manifesto

1.2.3Reforming Russia Before 1914 - Stolypin

1.2.4The Duma & Political Stalemate

1.3The First World War

1.3.1The Impact of Military Defeats

1.3.2Social & Economic Effects of WW1

1.3.3Romanov Unpopularity

1.3.4The Tsar's Abdication

1.3.5Top Grade AO2/3 - The End of Tsardom

2Lenin's New Society

2.1The Provisional Government

2.1.1The Failure of the Government

2.1.2Social & Economic Problems

2.1.3Lenin & Trotsky

2.1.4The Growth of the Bolsheviks

2.1.5The October / November Revolution

2.1.6Top Grade AO2/3 - The Provisional Government

2.2The Impact of Lenin's Dictatorship

2.2.1The End of the First World War

2.2.2The Cheka

2.2.3Red Terror & Centralisation

2.2.4The Civil War & The Red Army

2.2.5Propaganda

2.2.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Early Bolshevism & the Civil War

2.3Social & Economic Developments

2.3.1War Communism

2.3.2The Kronstadt Rising

2.3.3The New Economic Policy (NEP)

2.3.4The Achievements of Lenin & Trotsky

2.3.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Social & Economic Developments

3Stalin's USSR

3.1Stalin the Dictator

3.1.1The Power Struggle to Succeed Lenin

3.1.2The Communist Party & Government

3.1.3The Terror & the Purges

3.1.4The Secret Police

3.1.5Cult of Personality

3.1.6Propaganda & Censorship under Stalin

3.1.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Stalin's Dictatorship

3.2Stalin's Modernisation of the USSR

3.2.1Collectivisation

3.2.2Five Year Plans

3.2.3Social & Economic Consequences

3.2.4Social & Economic Consequences 2

3.2.5The Extent of Modernisation

3.3Impact of the Second World War

3.3.1Stalin's Wartime Leadership

3.3.2Political, Economic & Social Consequences of War

3.3.3Top Grade AO2/3 - Modernisation of the USSR

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