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Abdication and Dual Power (Key Issues in March 1917 (Economy (of…
Abdication and Dual Power
Nicholas II's Abdication
abdicated March 15 1917
army had joined striking workers in Petrograd
secret meeting decided that Nicholas, his wife and his children should be put to death
shot night of July 16th 1918
The Petrograd Soviet and Provisional Government took over
led to a Dual Power
Dual Power
Soviet
formed from workers and troops
Soviet means workers' and troops'
most of the delegates were ordinary factor workers and soldiers
factories and soldiers' committees could replace their delegates whenever they wished
meant there was fluidity to membership
army was to lisen to the Soviet but had control over their own weapons and arms
Key members:
Alexander Kerensky
communication between the soviet and provisional government
the two groups got on fairly well
Nikoloz Chkheidze
chairman of executive committee of soviet
Provisional Government
formed on 2nd March
from the leftovers of the 4th Duma
wasn't formed by the people
(only middle and upper classes truly represented by the 3rd and 4th Dumas)
wasn't democratic
but they argued that they had been appointed by the revolution
the first prime minister was a prince, Prince Lvov
didn't sit well with everybody
Key Issues in March 1917
several issues which the Dual Power had to address
War
should Russia sue for immediate peace now that they had no ruler?
surrendering would incur national shame, humiliation and loss of territory
continuing the war raised the question of whether Russia should
fight defensively or alongside its allies in an offensive war?
politicians had conflicting goals
Minister of War, Milyukov, wanted to gain land (particularly Constantinople)
pressure combined with the failing of the provisional government forced Milyukov to resign
Provisional Government reformed/re-established 5th May 1917
summer 1917: Provisional Government launched a major offensive against the Germans
they did this because:
Britain and France wanted Russia to attack on the East to take the pressure off them - government obliged to help their allies
there was still some nationalism/patriotism in Russian society
many thought a successful offensive would make army loyal once again - help bring revolution under control
socialists wanted immediate peace - some felt offensive would put them in a better position for peace negotiations with Germany
offensive began on June 16
lasted 3 days before falling apart
soldiers killed their officers rather than fighting
outcome:
territory was lost during the offensive
hundreds of thousands of soldiers were killed
caused more riots in Petrograd - the July Days
Women's Death Battalion were brought in to fight
Land
should land be taken from the nobility and handed to the peasants immediately?
or should an elected government organise it in a fairer and more efficient manner?
liberals in the Provisional Government were not willing to give over land
they wanted to form a constituent assembly to deal with land distribution methodically
concern that land redistribution would cause soldiers to rush back home to claim land
therefore, provisional government helped back the distribution of land
by May 1917 there was significant unrest in the countryside
peasants were starving and the collapse of central authority meant no one could stop them from taking land by force
peasants also too livestock, tools and timber in addition to land
Summary: Provisional government reluctant to distribute land to peasants, this resulted in peasant rebellions
National Minorities
ethnic minorities still clambering for independence and self-government. Should they be permitted this liberty?
some saw the fall of the Tsar as the appropriate time to spilt the Russian Empire, granting independence to certain states
government dealt with this inconsistently
Poland (didn't like) got no concessions
areas they did like (e.g. Ukraine) were granted some independence
Ukraine valuable to Russia because it was a large region of good farmland
not prepared to give it full independence
Economy
how could the economic situation be improved?
of particular focus was the food/fuel supply issue
Petrograd was starving
Orlando Figes:
'it all began with bread'
railway system was being used for the war - was falling apart
grain was going to the war or staying with the peasants
not going to the cities
massive unemployment and high inflation
these issues had already caused the February Revolution of 1917
the formation of the provisional government hadn't solved anything
all issues still present and provisional government didn't seem that strong
Social Reform
how should reforms for the working class be handled?
government couldn't grant workers concession
because they were under pressure from industrialists not to interfere
therefore, strikes increased again