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Russian Provisional Government
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The Russian Provisional Government was formed in Petrograd in 1917 after the February Revolution and the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II.
The weakness of the Provisional Government is perhaps best reflected in the derisive nickname given to Prime Minister Alexander Kerensky, who became known as the "persuader-in-chief." Although at first the Petrograd Soviet gave support to the Provisional Government, this gradually eroded. Since the Soviet controlled the army, factories, and railways and had the support of the workers, this became a period of dual authority.
The Provisional Government was led first by Prince Georgy L'vov and then by Alexander Kerensky.
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The Russian Provisional Government was formed in Petrograd in 1917 after the February Revolution and the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II.
The weakness of the Provisional Government is perhaps best reflected in the derisive nickname given to Prime Minister Alexander Kerensky, who became known as the "persuader-in-chief." Although at first the Petrograd Soviet gave support to the Provisional Government, this gradually eroded. Since the Soviet controlled the army, factories, and railways and had the support of the workers, this became a period of dual authority.
The Provisional Government was led first by Prince Georgy L'vov and then by Alexander Kerensky. Instead of ending Russia's involvement in World War I, it launched a new offensive against the German and Austro-Hungarian army in July 1917, thereby weakening its popularity among Russia's war-weary people. This Kerensky Offensive, as it was called, was a failure which further eroded support for the government. The Provisional Government was unable to make decisive policy decisions due to political factionalism and a breakdown of state structures. This weakness led to a challenge from the right in the form of the Kornilov Affair, and then from the left, which organized the October Revolution, transferring power to the Soviets controlled by the Bolsheviks.
Formation and initial composition
When the authority of the Tsar's government began disintegrating after the February Revolution of 1917, two rival institutions, the Duma and the Petrograd Soviet, competed for power. Tsar Nicholas II abdicated on March 2 (Julian calendar) and nominated his brother, Grand Duke Michael as the next tsar. Grand Duke Michael did not want to take the poisoned chalice and deferred acceptance of imperial power the next day. Legal authorization for the transfer of power was given by a proclamation signed by Grand Duke Michael. The Provisional Government was expected to rule until the Constituent Assembly later determined the form of government in Russia. The Provisional Government was designed to set up elections to the Assembly while maintaining essential government services, but its power was effectively limited by the Petrograd Soviet's growing authority.
Public announcement of the formation of the Provisional Government was made. It was published in Izvestia the day after its formation.
Initial composition of the Provisional Government:
April crisis and first coalition government
On April 18 (May 1) minister of Foreign Affairs Pavel Milyukov sent a note to the Allied governments, promising to continue the war to a victorious conclusion. On April 20 and 21 massive demonstrations of workers and soldiers erupted against the continuation of war. Demonstrations demanded resignation of Milyukov. They were soon met by the counter-demonstrations organised in his support. General Lavr Kornilov, commander of the Petrograd military district, whished to suppress the disorders, but premier Georgy Lvov refused to resort to violence.
The Provisional Government accepted the resignation of Foreign Minister Milyukov and War Minister Guchkov, and made a proposal to the Petrograd Soviet to form a coalition government. As a result of negotiations, on May 5 (18) agreement was reached and 6 socialist ministers joined the cabinet.
Composition of the first coalition government:
During this period Provisional Government merely reflected the will of the Soviet, where left tendencies (Bolshevism) were gaining ground. The Government, however, influenced by the "bourgeois" ministers, tried to base itself on the right wing of the Soviet. Socialist ministers, coming under fire from their left wing Soviet associates, where compelled to pursue a double-faced policy. The Provisional Government was unable to make decisive policy decisions due to political factionalism and a breakdown of state structures.
July crisis and second coalition government
July crisis took place in Petrograd between July 3 and July 7 (Julian calendar) (July 16-July 20, Gregorian calendar), when soldiers and industrial workers in the city rioted against the Provisional Government. Bolsheviks led the attack, but it failed and their leader Vladimir Lenin went into hiding, while other leaders were arrested.
The result of the events was new protracted crisis in the Provisional Government. "Bourgeois" ministers, belonging to the Constitutional Democratic Party resigned, and no cabinet could be formed to the end of the month. Finally, on August 6 (July 24) 1917, new coalition cabinet was formed with the Kerensky at it's head and composed mostly of socialists.
Second coalition:
Third coalition
From October 8 (September 25), 1917.
| Post | Name | Party |
|---|
| Minister-President | Alexander Kerensky | Socialist-Revolutionary Party | | Vice-President, Minister of Trade and Industry | Alexander Konovalov | | | Minister of Foreign Affairs | Mikhail Tereshchenko | Non-party | | Minister of Internal Affairs, Post and Telegraph | Alexei Nikitin | Menshevik | | Minister of War | Alexander Verkhovsky | | | Minister of Navy | Dmitry Verderevsky | | | Minister of Finance | Mikhail Bernatsky | | | Minister of Justice | Pavel Malyantovitch | Menshevik | | Minister of Transport | Alexander Liverovsky | Non-party | | Minister of Education | Sergei Salazkin | Non-party | | Minister of Agriculture | Semen Maslov | Socialist-Revolutionary Party | | Minister of Labour | Kuzma Gvozdev | Menshevik | | Minister of Food | Sergei Prokopovich | Non-party | | Minister of Health Care | Nikolai Kishkin | Kadet | | Minister of Post and Telegraph | Alexei Nikitin | Menshevik | | Minister of Religion | Anton Kartashev | Kadet | |
The October Revolution
The Provisional Government was deposed as a result of the October Revolution. Kerensky escaped the Bolsheviks in their capture of the Winter Palace and fled to Pskov, where he rallied some loyal troops for an attempt to retake the capital. His troops managed to capture Tsarskoe Selo but were beaten the next day at Pulkovo. Kerensky spent the next few weeks in hiding before fleeing the country. He went into exile in France.
The Bolsheviks then replaced the government with their own which, until the Russian Constituent Assembly was disbanded.
Some historians, such as Pavel Osinsky, argue that the October Revolution was as much a function of the failures of the Provisional Government as it was of the strength of the Bolsheviks. Osinsky described this as “socialism by default” as opposed to “socialism by design.”
Riasanovsky argued that the Provisional Government made perhaps its "worst mistake" by not holding elections to the Constituent Assembly soon enough. They wasted time fine-tuning details of the election law, while Russia slipped further into anarchy and economic chaos. By the time the Assembly finally met, argued Riasanovsky, "the Bolsheviks had already gained control of Russia."
Additional reading
- Kerensky, Alexander. . New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1927.
- Medvedev, Roi. The October Revolution. New York: Columbia University Press, 1979.
- Nabokov, Vladimir Dmitrievich. V.D. Nabokov and the Russian Provisional Government, 1917. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1976, ISBN 0300018207
- Reed, John. . New York: Boni & Liveright, 1919.
- Riasanovsky, Nicholas. A History of Russia (sixth edition). New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.
- Trotsky, Leon. . New York: Pioneer Publishers, 1937 (1924).
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