Russia 1905-1941 'Explain how the unpopularity of the Provisional Government contributed to the Bolshevik Revolution of November 1917'

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Russia 1905-1941

‘Explain how the unpopularity of the Provisional Government contributed to the Bolshevik Revolution of November 1917’

The Provisional Government, Russia’s new Administration, consisted of twelve members from the Duma, who were chosen by only a small minority of the Russian public to govern their country. The Provisional Government accepted it was a temporary authority which had been rushed into power following the collapse of Tsarism. The new government consisted of mainly the Russian capitalists and bourgeoisie, and consequently peasants turned their support towards the Petrograd Soviet. The Petrograd Soviet like the Provisional Government had been formed hastily out of the Petrograd strike committee and lacked the authority to govern. It consisted of two major left wing revolutionary parties, the Mensheviks and the Socialist Revolutionaries, and both were willing to work together with the Provisional Government but were ultimately dedicated to a further revolution.

Although the Petrograd Soviets throughout Russia were not opposed to the Provisional Government and co-operated with the administration, they were looking to hold the greater authority. This authority was gained when the Soviets issued Order Number One which unofficially gave them the power to prohibit military decisions made by the Provisional Government.

Despite the weak position of the Provisional Government, with the Petrograd Soviet having moderate control over its decisions, it still managed an enormous programme of legislative changes for Russia within the first two months of office. These included trial by jury, the abolishment of capital punishment and exile, removal of discrimination and the initiation of the eight hour working day.

Enforcing these legislative changes, meant the Provisional Government won some popular public support, and ensured its survival for a short length of time. However unless the government could do something about Russia’s state of crisis, the new legislation would mean nothing. The Government had inherited an accumulation of problems from the Tsarist regime, chiefly amongst them was the unpopularity of the war. Consequently, the government continued to rely on the Soviets, and in particular the Petrograd Soviet.

These problems and the Provisional Government’s inability to enforce their legislative changes meant their credibility was severely in doubt. Although the Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries were happy to cooperate with the Provisional Government, it was difficult to perceive how a revolution against the Capitalists was going to take place. The amnesty for all political prisoners granted by the Provisional Government meant prominent Bolsheviks like Lenin returned, causing the Bolsheviks determination to seize power to increase, and to start a revolution in which the power would eventually be placed in the poorest divisions of Russian society.

The First World War provided a foremost problem for the Provisional Government. It had little choice but to continue the war. The differing attitudes to the war became the first major disagreement between the Petrograd Soviet and the Provisional Government. If the Provisional Government was to gain the support for the war from the Petrograd Soviet it would weaken their position furthermore as it would involve giving more power to the Petrograd Soviet. However there were two major reasons for the Provisional Government’s decision to carry on with the war. Russia by 1917 had become dependent upon her western allied assistance to survive. Russia was bankrupt and was being kept afloat by injections of capital from abroad. A faction of foreign bankers declared their intention to allow finance to continue to flow to the Provisional Government on the understanding it would continue with the war effort. The army itself was the second reason why the Provisional Government decided to continue with the War. Russia had 9 million soldiers and could not be disbanded otherwise they would become a threat to government stability. The Russian public wanted to end the war but the Provisional Government wanted to continue the war to continue because if the disbanded soldiers came back they would have either joined the Petrograd Soviets or the Bolsheviks making the Provisional Government position ever weaker.

The Provisional Government also sought the War as a way in which to receive support from the Russian public, which became known as the June Offensive. However, there was adversity and the popularity which the Provisional Government hoped would have been gained was not realised. The July Days was further failed offensive, where there was a clash between Government and Soviet troops. Other failed offensives included the battle of Tannenburg in 1914 were the Russians lost 10000 troops and the Germans advanced with great success taking over 1 million Russian soldiers prisoners in 1915. The Provisional Government had lost its majority of support and consequently the Bolsheviks used this to their advantage by provoking riots and revolts. The Provisional Government’s substantial inability to organise the war was exposed.

The build up of Bolshevik power, support and authority was evident and by September 1917 the Bolsheviks had 49.6% of the support. This build up of support was owed to the Kornilov Revolt in July 1917, when the Provisional Government’s power and authority was severely tested and its unpopularity led to the recognition of the Bolshevik Party in Russian society. After another failed offensive against Austria in July 1917, a 100,000 soldiers and Bolsheviks roamed Petrograd chanting ‘all power to the Soviets’. They were later stopped when Kerensky claimed that Lenin was a spy for the Germans, and loyal troops broke the rioters. However when they deafened Petrograd from Kornilov’s attack they were treated as heroes. The Bolsheviks had more power and support than ever before and revolution looked like a real possibility.  

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By November 1917 there were severe problems and shortages of food supplies. Many of Russia’s ports were blocked and consequently they were unable to transport food, they were also unable to trade and receive other goods from their allies. Peasants refused to supply the towns and cities with food because of the inflation in Russia. The price they were being offered for the food was unacceptable. Russia’s railway system had also reached breaking point. The demand for the army was colossal. Meeting these demands was often achieved by the cost of allowing cities to go short. Only half the ...

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