The Provisional Government
Nature of the Government
Point Information
• The Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet made up the two main
political bodies after the fall of the Romanovs in February 1917
• The PG was made up of key figures for the Kadets and other liberal parties
• Leader Prince Lvov
The • Role was to run the country until a constituent assembly had been formed and
Provisional the people could vote
Government • PG were chosen by a committee of the Duma – it was not elected by the people
• Milyukov (foreign minister), Kerensky (minister of justice), Lvov (Prime
Minister)
• Had the power to make laws but had to have agreement with the Soviets
• PG had all responsibility; Soviets had all the power
• Made up of workers and solider’ representatives
• Socialist intellectuals – mainly Mensheviks – happy to sit and watch and make
sure people weren’t exploited
• They wanted to wait for the Proletariat to dominate society and then take over
• Lenin thought this would take too long
• Leader – Chkheidze – Menshevik
Petrograd • Role was the protect the interest of the working classes and soldiers
Soviet • ORDER NO.1 – gave Soviet power of all weapons and meant representation for
all soldiers – created a situation of dual power
• They could also determine which factories could stay open, and which services
(e.g. electricity) would be provided
• They refused to take power – Mensheviks/SR’s believed they needed to wait,
they wanted to avoid civil war or a counter revolution, leaders were scared and
unsure if they could control the masses
• Member of both bodies and provided main lines of communication between
Alexander
both political bodies
Kerensky
• Prime Minister after Lvov and the July Days
70
, • Immediate amnesty of political prisoners, including terrorists – potentially
dangerous for opposition and threat to stability, to reform is liberal and good in
theory but not in practice
• Immediate freedom of speech, assembly, and right to strike
• Immediate abolition of religious, national, or social privileges
• Immediate preparations for a Constituent Assembly that guaranteed universal
Initial Aims suffrage – they put off elections in fear they won’t get re-elected
• Abolition of all police units and replacement by local militias with elected
officers – cannot be associated with Tsars, but lose control of people
• Elections for all local councils and zemstvas
• All military units that had joined the revolution were to keep their weapons and
would not be sent to the front
• Maintenance of military discipline
71
Nature of the Government
Point Information
• The Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet made up the two main
political bodies after the fall of the Romanovs in February 1917
• The PG was made up of key figures for the Kadets and other liberal parties
• Leader Prince Lvov
The • Role was to run the country until a constituent assembly had been formed and
Provisional the people could vote
Government • PG were chosen by a committee of the Duma – it was not elected by the people
• Milyukov (foreign minister), Kerensky (minister of justice), Lvov (Prime
Minister)
• Had the power to make laws but had to have agreement with the Soviets
• PG had all responsibility; Soviets had all the power
• Made up of workers and solider’ representatives
• Socialist intellectuals – mainly Mensheviks – happy to sit and watch and make
sure people weren’t exploited
• They wanted to wait for the Proletariat to dominate society and then take over
• Lenin thought this would take too long
• Leader – Chkheidze – Menshevik
Petrograd • Role was the protect the interest of the working classes and soldiers
Soviet • ORDER NO.1 – gave Soviet power of all weapons and meant representation for
all soldiers – created a situation of dual power
• They could also determine which factories could stay open, and which services
(e.g. electricity) would be provided
• They refused to take power – Mensheviks/SR’s believed they needed to wait,
they wanted to avoid civil war or a counter revolution, leaders were scared and
unsure if they could control the masses
• Member of both bodies and provided main lines of communication between
Alexander
both political bodies
Kerensky
• Prime Minister after Lvov and the July Days
70
, • Immediate amnesty of political prisoners, including terrorists – potentially
dangerous for opposition and threat to stability, to reform is liberal and good in
theory but not in practice
• Immediate freedom of speech, assembly, and right to strike
• Immediate abolition of religious, national, or social privileges
• Immediate preparations for a Constituent Assembly that guaranteed universal
Initial Aims suffrage – they put off elections in fear they won’t get re-elected
• Abolition of all police units and replacement by local militias with elected
officers – cannot be associated with Tsars, but lose control of people
• Elections for all local councils and zemstvas
• All military units that had joined the revolution were to keep their weapons and
would not be sent to the front
• Maintenance of military discipline
71
