After the first revolution there were many long-term problems to be dealt with by the Provisional Government. The problem which crippled Russia in all aspects was the war against Germany. The war was using up Russia’s men and money and the problem of the peasants who awaited their land reforms to get started. Because 87 % of Russian’s population where peasants, there was a shortage of food due to all peasants forced commitment to the war. Finally the crisis of the army’s discontent, which was proven by the revolt made by General Kornilov. Having all these existing plights upon the heads of leaders, it basically meant that if they weren’t dealt properly, there would a revolution at some point on the timeline. The immediate decisions they made on these several problems, some people may argue were justified by the war but if these problems had not carried on and been with dealt in a more a professional way there may not have been a the revolution?
Russia carried on with the war, doing this so that they could stay on good terms with the liberal governments of France and England, who were fighting with Russia at the same time. The Provisional Government was not willing to give peasants their land reforms. This was probably the number one decision that decided that the revolution was going to happen and if this problem had been solved then many of the outer long-term problems probably wouldn’t have happened. The Provisional Government did not make any land reforms and because the lack of effort, the peasants started to attack their landlords throughout Russia. In reaction to this sudden act of the peasants, the Government sent in soldiers to stabilize the situation, but by doing so it resulted more violence from the peasants. The government was driving against the wishes of the majority of Russia’s population. Already the provisional government had made mistakes with these problems, not dealing at the right time and way.
Due to misguided decisions, the Provisional Government lost control over an important fraction of the Russian Empire; the army. The army discontent was another problem that should have been dealt with, in a serious manner, by the government. Not dealing with this problem lead General Kornilov starting a revolt and make the Prime Minister allow the Bolsheviks (the party which soon would overthrow the Provisional Government) to establish a defence force called the ‘Red Guards’. This shows the how desperate and weak the Provisional Government were at time to make the decision. The problem would soon grow much larger until soldiers ended up deserting the army. The Capitalists (Middle Class) who made money from banking, industry and trade received support by the Finance Minister Sergei Witte who had made it easier for them to make big profits. The Finance Minister’s aim was to speed up the Industrialization of Russia. Like the Capitalists who received support from the Government, the peasants were seeking for the same idea. Unfortunately the food problem was not dealt correctly either, which could have also stopped the war and thus had more peasants available to grow crops and increase food production. Instead doing this the Provisional Government, found it necessary to carry on with the war. Having made big mistakes on these problems it had guaranteed a revolution, in November
Lenin (the soon to be leader of the revolution and the Bolsheviks) having made the mistake of starting a revolt to early in a fashion not true to his party the Bolsheviks but alike to the style of the Mensheviks started a revolution by the people who were branded with his party enemy spies. This time was known as the July days and was chaotic and got very many of the Bolshevik exiled or thrown into prison. Luckily for him after the Red Guards managed to stop General Kornilov’s troops the Bolsheviks were claimed to be heroes and Lenin could return from exile in Finland. Lenin wouldn’t have been able to come into to Russia if the Liberal party had not made one crucial mistake that would soon lead to their downfall. Lenin was able to enter Russia and organize the Bolsheviks as he had done before with the April these, which asked for the end of the War with Germany, to give all land to the peasants, to nationalize banks, give no support to the Provisional Government. This allowed Lenin to have enough power to organize the Bolsheviks and to take charge of the already hugely supported party.
The last mistake that showed that the Revolution would come about soon was that the Provisional Government allowed soviets to be formed and allowed a large soviet to be formed called the Petrograd Soviet, which meant that their was dual power which was a dangerous situation to be in. The first action of the Petrograd soviet was to announce Order No. 1 that was a series of orders to change how privates they saluted their superiors and how the army should be organised. This order was followed in all parts of the Navy and Army that showed that the Petrograd Soviet was more in control of the army then the Provisional Government. So with these two policies having backfired on the Provisional Government it showed that they were not in control and would be in trouble if they did not take direct action.
Finally the last thing that led up to the revolution was when Lenin returned from Finland and convinced the party to start a revolution. Lenin with the help of Leon Trotsky and the Bolshevik chairman of the Petrograd Soviet organised the taking over of the Winter Palace the base of the Provisional Government. So for these reasons there was a second revolution. In my opinion the main problems could have been stopped by with drawing from the war and then being able to look further into the outer problems that would probably have grown smaller as the war ended. The war was the main cause of the problems of food shortage and was one of the causes of soldier discontent. So already by leaving the war two big problems would have been solved. The introduction of the Soviet didn’t help both seeing as they cooperated with the Bolsheviks and would help the revolution. Another fatal mistake that truly brought about the revolution was allowing freedom to organize and freedom of speech by no having allowed it they could have prevented Lenin from entering the country and becoming recognised. The Tsar although he was overthrown managed to stay longer in power because of oppressing rebellion and making it totally out of the question. The main problem in all of these problems though was the Government who didn’t have the skills to rule and in the end was obviously shown. Overall the main reason that there was a second revolution in Russia was the Provisional Government decided to continue with the war, including that the Provisional Government had clear aims which brought hunger, humiliation and ended with making the Bolsheviks stronger and the army.
Bibliography
Information on Essay: 1496 words
Information obtained to assist in this Essay writing:
- Book (20th Russia in War and Revolution) Russia 1900-24
Author Josh Brooman, Published 1986
- History class Book + Handouts + Group Discussions
Handouts:
- Russia between Revolutions March-November 1917
- The March Revolution
- Section 1 Review: Why were the Bolsheviks successful in October 1917?
