Summary

The first problem was the Petrograd Soviet, which forbade people to obey the Provisional Government unless the Soviet agreed. The Provisional Government did nothing about it.
The second problem was inflation and hunger. Again, the Provisional Government failed, because it didn’t end the war.
A third problem were the peasants, who started taking the nobles land. The Provisional Government sent troops to take back the land, which made the problem worse.
The main problem was the War, which Russia was losing. The Provisional Government set up ‘death squads’ to execute deserters, which made the army hate the government.
The fifth problem was a Bolshevik rebellion (the ‘July Days’). The Provisional Government put down the riots, but it allowed freedom of speech and released political prisoners, which HELPED the Bolsheviks.
The final problem was a pro-Tsar rebellion led by Kornilov (August 1917). The Provisional Government could not defeat it – it had to ask the Bolsheviks for help.

What Problems faced the Provisional Government, and how successful was it in dealing with them?

The February Revolution brought the middle class to power. The Duma set up a ‘provisional’ (temporary) 12-man executive led by Kerensky. It tried to rule Russia in a way which was not too revolutionary, which meant that it failed to deal with the problems that faced it.

The first problem was the Petrograd Soviet, which had built up a nation-wide network of Soviets which took their orders from it – Order Number 1, for example, forbade soldiers and workers to obey the provisional Government unless the Soviet agreed. This was a direct challenge to the authority of the Provisional Government. However, the Provisional Government did nothing to try to end the power of the Soviets.

The second problem facing the Provisional Government was inflation and hunger, which got worse because the war didn’t end (and so the people stayed angry). Again, the Provisional Government failed to end the food shortages or inflation, because it didn’t end the war.

A third problem facing the Provisional Government were the peasants, who started taking the nobles land (which caused anarchy in the countryside). Again, the Provisional Government failed. It sent troops to take back the land, which made the peasants very angry – with the government.

The main problem facing the Provisional Government was the War. The Provisional Government tried to continue the war. It attacked Austria in June 1917, but after initial successes, the German moved in and the Russian were defeated. Soldiers deserted. There was a naval mutiny Again, the Provisional Government failed to deal with the problem because it did not end the war. As an attempt to do something, it set up ‘death squads’ to execute deserters. However, this made things worse – by October 1917, soldiers were deserting, going home, killing the landlords, and taking land.

The fifth problem facing the Provisional Government was the Bolsheviks. In April, Lenin returned and published his ‘April Theses’ (‘Peace, Bread, Land’; ‘all power to the Soviets’; state ownership of factories and banks). In July, the Bolsheviks tried to take over the government by rioting in the ‘July Days’. Again, the Provisional Government failed to solve the problem. After the July Days, the Provisional Government arrested the leaders, but let the Bolshevik Party continue. Also, the Provisional Government allowed freedom of speech and the press, and released political prisoners, which HELPED the Bolsheviks.

The final problem facing the Provisional Government was a right-wing/ pro-Tsar army coup in August 1917 led by General Kornilov. Again, the Provisional Government failed. It had no control of the army and had to ask the Bolsheviks to help it. This made the government seem weak AND made the Bolsheviks popular (they took control of the Soviets).