The Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet Abdication of the Tsar and its consequences The abdication of the Tsar created a power vacuum To fill that vacuum two new political bodies were formed on 28 February ID: 524053
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Slide1
The Crisis of Dual Authority…
The Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet Slide2
Abdication of the Tsar and its consequences…
The abdication of the Tsar created a power
vacuum. To fill that vacuum, two new political bodies were formed on 28 FebruaryProvisional Government: A temporary committee formed during the February revolution, an official authority with formal power inherited after the abdication of the Tsar. Petrograd Soviet: A powerful political body formed by Trotsky during the 1905 Revolution, which re-formed on 28 February 1917. It was seen as having genuine power in the eyes of many people.
Prince
Georgy
Lvov:
During the
February Revolution and
the abdication
of the Tsar,
Lvov was made head of the
provisional government Unable
to rally sufficient support, he resigned in July
1917 in favour of his Minister for Justice Alexander Kerensky
Alexander Kerensky: part of Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet to unify Russia. Was Prime Minister and leader of the Socialist Revolutionaries. Slide3Slide4Slide5Slide6Slide7
Phases of dual authority – a revolutionary year
The period from February to October has been described as a period of dual authority or government
Two phases:February to April 1917: The Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet worked together and were supported by the main revolutionary parties, including the Bolsheviks April to October 1917: Lenin’s return after 3 April, where he launched a rivalry campaign separating the Soviet and the Bolshevik Party from the Provisional Government and their supportersSlide8
Provisional Government Policies
Full amnesty of political and religious prisonersFreedom of speech
Freedom of the pressFreedom to strike and assemble in unionsAbolition of all class, religious and national restrictionsSlide9
Provisional Government Policies
Preparations to elect a Constituent Assembly to represent the whole nation so Provisional Government would cease to exist
Replace the Tsarist police with an elected people’s militiaElection of local councilsMilitary troops who fought on the side of the revolution given roles as permanent defenders of PetrogradSlide10
Petrograd Soviet
28 February: 600 soldiers and workers turned up to Tauride Palace and formed the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies Soviet had considerable influence: control of army, railways, communications, employers, employees
Over 3000 deputies regularly met and debated about progress of revolutionSlide11
Soviet Order No. 1
Published a day after formation of Petrograd Soviet, read to all companies, battalions, regiments and sailors
Called for the following: -Every military unit must elect representatives to attend Soviet-All political activity of military units should be ‘subordinated to the Soviet’
-Any military orders given by the Provisional Government ‘shall be executed only in such cases as they do not conflict with the orders of the Soviet’
-All arms must be in control of the company and battalion commanders and in ‘no case be turned over to officers’
-When performing their duties, soldiers must observe strict military discipline
-Replacement of titles of officers from ‘Your Excellency’ and ‘Your Honour’ to ‘Mister General’ and ‘Mister Colonel’ Slide12
Question time!
Compare the Provisional Government’s policies with Soviet Order No. 1Underline and annotate key points made in related to the military, political power, people’s rights
Place ‘+’ signs next to any points that are similar between the two, that indicate points of agreement or working together of the Soviet and GovernmentPlace ‘—’ signs next to anything that contradicts something in the other document, that could be used to undermine the power of the governmentQuestion: Which demands of the Soviet would the Provisional Government have found most threatening? Why?
Slide13
Problems…
Provisional Government was viewed as not being representative of the masses as they were not chosen representatives elected by popular vote or mandate. Instead, were privileged members of the Fourth Duma given political control in confusion of Feb Revolution
They continued fighting the First World War which was unpopular with the Russian populationSlide14
Problems…
Did not focus on internal problems like food and fuel shortages, inflation, peasant seizures of land and ministerial instability June Offensive: After Russian success on Austrian Line on war front, German reinforcements bombed Russian soldiers with propaganda leaflets and inflicted casualties. Damaged morale.
Alienation of working-class and upper-class supporters: Tried to take the middle road and please all segments of the population, but alienated bothSlide15
Consequences…
April Theses:
When Lenin returned from exile in April he wrote a collection of arguments which became the Bolshevik blueprint for a revolution. It was released on 4 April and called for ‘all power to the Soviets’ because:Russian involvement in WW1 was part of an ‘imperialist war’ The political situation in Russia under the Provisional Government represented the first stage of revolution where power was in the hands of the bourgeoisie and must give way to the second stage where power should be placed in the hands of the proletariat and poor peasantry
The Provisional Government ‘falsity of promises’ made Lenin declare he was not going to support it
He urged for a republic of Soviets of Workers, Agricultural Labourers and Peasants’ Deputies to run the country, not a parliamentary republic
He called for the confiscation of all landed estates and for land to be put in charge of the local Soviets Slide16
To work, proletariat! To work!
Complete the ‘April Theses’ summary table on page 114-115. Summarise in dot points.Before you summarise anything, underline and annotate the key claims Lenin makes about the situation in Russia in 1917, circle the key words describing this, asterisk any points he makes about power and question mark anything you don’t understand. Make sure you clarify your questions before writing.
*Hint: you can use this Powerpoint to help youSlide17
Consequences
July Days:
Late June: country collapsed economically and politically Between March and July, 568 factories closed down, resulting in dismissal of 140 000 workers Street demonstrations became a daily occurrence, but by 3 to 6 July the protests directly challenged the new government Demonstrations were disorganised and undisciplined
Bolsheviks blamed for disturbances
To avoid accepting blame for a failed uprising, Trotsky argued protests were initiated by SRs and Mensheviks
Seemed to be a significant victory for the Government, but Bolsheviks survived and learnt from this Slide18
Workers of my class, unite!
Refer to p.p116-117 and come up with a list of lessons that the Bolsheviks learned from the July Days. Put this into your ‘revolutionary scrapbooks’ with facts and evidenceSlide19
Consequences
Kornilov Affair/Revolt :
In August, General Kornilov was appointed Commander in Chief of the Russian armyThreatened by the advancing German army, Kornilov warned Kerensky of the urgent need to defend Petrograd To restore order, he marched his troops towards the capital Fearing a military coup, Kerensky declared Kornilov a traitor and ordered the release of the Bolsheviks from prison
The Bolsheviks were given weapons
Trotsky immediately formed, armed and trained the Red Guard from 40 000 radical workers, who were credited with saving Petrograd from a Tsarist general
Following this, support for the Bolsheviks rapidly grewSlide20Slide21
Rise of the Bolsheviks
Possible reasons to explain the rise in Bolshevik support:
-Army was demoralised after the June Offensive which multiplied Bolshevik groups in army (from 44 groups in July to 108 by September)-After Kornilov revolt, reputation of Bolsheviks as defenders of Petrograd grew-Bolsheviks promoted themselves as true revolutionaries because they didn’t cooperate with the Provisional Government
-Bolsheviks gained a majority in the Petrograd and Moscow Soviets by September
-Trotsky was elected Chairman of the Petrograd SovietSlide22Slide23
No striking, yet! This isn’t the July Days!
Create an annotated timeline summarising the crisis of dual authority, including the following events:
-Formation of the Provisional Government -Re-formation of the Petrograd Soviet-Provisional Government continued fighting the First World War-April Theses
-July Days
-Kornilov Affair
-Growth in political support for the Bolsheviks
Ensure you add detailed information under each event, including specific dates, turning points and some quotes