Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-1-the-failure-of-the-government [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [History](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa.md) › The Failure of the Government # The Failure of the Government History: AQA GCSE Russia, 1894-1945, topic 2.1.1 ## 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 Duma](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/79a400c1-5163-4ddd-8ca4-49e72e112173/shutterstock_634354253.jpg) - 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 [GIF: The Petrograd Soviet](https://media.giphy.com/media/11xA7n67TubPby/giphy.mp4) - 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 ![The Provisional Government and war](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/9b0ecab7-fba8-402e-8fbc-42a68382de61/shutterstock_248204710.jpg) - 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 ![The government and the Soviets](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/0ed9d006-f6a6-49b5-9360-e92e9aed1426/shutterstock_73792807.jpg) - 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 ![Alexander Kerensky](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/573f35a9-3a1c-4bdb-9545-8a3448b51586/shutterstock_723402415.jpg) - 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 ![Order Number 1](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/91a0b78b-4fde-4ba2-b3bf-3399a0b4e7fb/shutterstock_507148615.jpg) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/7ef9f477-dc45-45bc-92d1-8ae410473c50/shutterstock_521222146.jpg) - 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].” ## Test yourself on The Failure of the Government - Who was the original chairman of the Provisional Government? - When was the Provisional Government formally established? - When was the Central Executive Committee set up to represent the views of all the Soviets and the worker and soldier representatives? - Which of the following are correct? - Who controlled discipline in the army? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/68cb5c28-b4d9-41f3-a315-2a7d3e63fc5e/section/2984e59a-fe4f-45ff-8954-607dc55dd93b/session) - Previous topic: [1.3.5 Top Grade AO2/3 - The End of Tsardom](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-5-top-grade-ao23-the-end-of-tsardom.md) - Next topic: [2.1.2 Social & Economic Problems](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-2-social-and-economic-problems.md) ## History: AQA GCSE Russia, 1894-1945 contents ### 1 The End of Tsardom - 1.1 Russia's Economy & Society - [1.1.1 Industrialisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-1-1-industrialisation.md) - [1.1.2 Living & Working Conditions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-1-2-living-and-working-conditions.md) - 1.2 Nicholas II's Autocracy & the Court - [1.2.1 Growth of Revolutionary Opposition](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-1-growth-of-revolutionary-opposition.md) - [1.2.2 The 1905 Revolution & the October Manifesto](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-2-the-1905-revolution-and-the-october-manifesto.md) - [1.2.3 Reforming Russia Before 1914 - Stolypin](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-3-reforming-russia-before-1914-stolypin.md) - [1.2.4 The Duma & Political Stalemate](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-4-the-duma-and-political-stalemate.md) - 1.3 The First World War - [1.3.1 The Impact of Military Defeats](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-1-the-impact-of-military-defeats.md) - [1.3.2 Social & Economic Effects of WW1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-2-social-and-economic-effects-of-ww1.md) - [1.3.3 Romanov Unpopularity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-3-romanov-unpopularity.md) - [1.3.4 The Tsar's Abdication](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-4-the-tsars-abdication.md) - [1.3.5 Top Grade AO2/3 - The End of Tsardom](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-5-top-grade-ao23-the-end-of-tsardom.md) ### 2 Lenin's New Society - 2.1 The Provisional Government - [2.1.1 The Failure of the Government](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-1-the-failure-of-the-government.md) - [2.1.2 Social & Economic Problems](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-2-social-and-economic-problems.md) - [2.1.3 Lenin & Trotsky](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-3-lenin-and-trotsky.md) - [2.1.4 The Growth of the Bolsheviks](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-4-the-growth-of-the-bolsheviks.md) - [2.1.5 The October / November Revolution](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-5-the-october-november-revolution.md) - [2.1.6 Top Grade AO2/3 - The Provisional Government](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-6-top-grade-ao23-the-provisional-government.md) - 2.2 The Impact of Lenin's Dictatorship - [2.2.1 The End of the First World War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-1-the-end-of-the-first-world-war.md) - [2.2.2 The Cheka](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-2-the-cheka.md) - [2.2.3 Red Terror & Centralisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-3-red-terror-and-centralisation.md) - [2.2.4 The Civil War & The Red Army](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-4-the-civil-war-and-the-red-army.md) - [2.2.5 Propaganda](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-5-propaganda.md) - [2.2.6 Top Grade AO2/3 - Early Bolshevism & the Civil War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-6-top-grade-ao23-early-bolshevism-and-the-civil-war.md) - 2.3 Social & Economic Developments - [2.3.1 War Communism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-1-war-communism.md) - [2.3.2 The Kronstadt Rising](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-2-the-kronstadt-rising.md) - [2.3.3 The New Economic Policy (NEP)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-3-the-new-economic-policy-nep.md) - [2.3.4 The Achievements of Lenin & Trotsky](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-4-the-achievements-of-lenin-and-trotsky.md) - [2.3.5 Top Grade AO2/3 - Social & Economic Developments](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-5-top-grade-ao23-social-and-economic-developments.md) ### 3 Stalin's USSR - 3.1 Stalin the Dictator - [3.1.1 The Power Struggle to Succeed Lenin](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-1-the-power-struggle-to-succeed-lenin.md) - [3.1.2 The Communist Party & Government](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-2-the-communist-party-and-government.md) - [3.1.3 The Terror & the Purges](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-3-the-terror-and-the-purges.md) - [3.1.4 The Secret Police](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-4-the-secret-police.md) - [3.1.5 Cult of Personality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-5-cult-of-personality.md) - [3.1.6 Propaganda & Censorship under Stalin](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-6-propaganda-and-censorship-under-stalin.md) - [3.1.7 Top Grade AO2/3 - Stalin's Dictatorship](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-7-top-grade-ao23-stalins-dictatorship.md) - 3.2 Stalin's Modernisation of the USSR - [3.2.1 Collectivisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-1-collectivisation.md) - [3.2.2 Five Year Plans](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-2-five-year-plans.md) - [3.2.3 Social & Economic Consequences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-3-social-and-economic-consequences.md) - [3.2.4 Social & Economic Consequences 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-4-social-and-economic-consequences-2.md) - [3.2.5 The Extent of Modernisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-5-the-extent-of-modernisation.md) - 3.3 Impact of the Second World War - [3.3.1 Stalin's Wartime Leadership](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-3-1-stalins-wartime-leadership.md) - [3.3.2 Political, Economic & Social Consequences of War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-3-2-political-economic-and-social-consequences-of-war.md) - [3.3.3 Top Grade AO2/3 - Modernisation of the USSR](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-3-3-top-grade-ao23-modernisation-of-the-ussr.md)