Why did prov govt fail | davisonhistory

WHY DID THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT FAIL?

The Provisional Government took control in Feb. 1917. They soon proved themselves incapable of ruling Russia. It was led by Lvov until July, when Alexander Kerensky, who had opposed the Tsar became Prime Minister. The Provisional Government faced many problems such as keeping Russia involved in World War I, DUAL GOVERNMENT - rivalry for power by the Petrograd Soviet (which had the support of parts of the army) and the fact that they were Provisional (temporary) which lessened their authority. They were also made up of different groups so took a long time to reach decisions. The idea was that once Russia had calmed down then free elections would take place. It was a cautious, weak sounding message.
SOVIET ORDER NUMBER ONE UNDERMINED THEIR AUTHORITY: this stated that the army should follow the orders of the Provisional Government unless they contradicted the orders of the Petrograd Soviet.
The Mensheviks and Social Revolutionaries were willing to work with the Prov. Gov. to improve conditions for workers and peasants. The Bolsheviks were more hostile.
Lenin returned from exile in April 1917. He wrote the April Theses which declared that the Bolsheviks must overthrow the government and seize power as soon as possible. Therefore it was essential to gain control of the Petrograd Soviet.
The Bolshevik’s produced propaganda: “Peace, Bread, Land” & “All Power to the Soviets!” This was exactly what the majority of the people wanted to hear.
The Provisional Government allowed free speech and freedom of the press. This meant that their opponents could criticise them.
Although the Bolsheviks had fewer delegates at the All Russian Congress of Soviets in June 1917, they hadn’t co operated with the weak Provisional Government and gradually support for them grew. The peasants tried to take the land of the aristocracy & the Provisional government tried to stop them. To distract attention from troubles at home and try to inspire patriotism they ordered an attack on Austrians in the War. This was called the June offensive. It was unsuccessful and led to more defeats and mass desertion from the army.
The July Days: Mass riots broke out in Petrograd. Demonstrations organised by the Bolsheviks turned into an uprising against the government. The Bolsheviks were taken by surprise. Lenin had to escape to avoid arrest. They didn’t decide quickly enough whether or not to seize power. The government sent troops to Petrograd and the uprising was halted.
Hundreds of Bolsheviks were arrested. Lenin fled to Finland. Kerensky, the leader of the Prov. Gov. appointed General Kornilov as commander in chief of the army in am attempt to restore discipline in the army.
Kerensky promised to support Kornilov in restoring the power of officers of ordinary soldiers, but then worried that this would anger the Soviets. Kornilov had the support of the middle and upper classes.
8th Sept 1917: Kornilov ordered his troops to occupy Petrograd to try and break the power of the Soviet. Kerensky lost his nerve and dismissed Kornilov. Kornilov tried to revolt, but his troops didn’t want to overthrow the Soviet and the revolt collapsed with no fighting. The “Kornilov Affair” revealed how dependent the Prov. Gov. was on the Soviet for its survival. During the revolt many Bolsheviks were released from prison to help the Soviet against Kornilov’s men. They were the ones who had removed the threat of Kornilov. The Bolsheviks had most influence over the soldiers. These “Red Guards” were like the Bolshevik’s private army.
By late Sept. 1917 the Soviets in most major cities including Petrograd & Moscow were in Bolshevik hands. Under Trotsky, one of Lenin’s closest colleagues, the Military Revolutionary Committee of The Petrograd Soviet was planning how to seize power.
By October 1917 Kerensky’s government was doomed. It had tried to carry on the war and failed, losing the army’s support. It had tried to stop the peasants taking land and so lost their support. Without peasant support it had failed to supply towns with food and food prices rose hugely, losing support from the workers. In contrast Bolshevik slogans seemed to offer people strong messages of what they wanted.