Crises of the Provisional Government

Military problems focused and exacerbated all questions concerning the revolution of 1917 . At this time, the social and economic situation began to deteriorate, the separatist mood in the outlying areas of the country began to grow, the demands of the revolutionary masses grew, which led to discontent, as they did not materialize. This situation was used by the Bolsheviks to strengthen the people's hatred of the bourgeoisie and liberals. They promised full satisfaction of the demands of the people by creating a socialist revolution that would help to end the war and transfer the land to the peasants.

During the revolution, the tsarist government was overthrown, and at the end of February the formation of the Provisional Government began. However, for the entire period of existence, three crises of the Provisional Government took place, each of which was longer and stronger than the previous one. Thanks to this, by the beginning of September a new government was created, called the Directory, which included five people. But all these events did not contribute to the cessation of the revolution, but only kindled it, as a result of which preparations were begun to seize power.

Let us examine in detail the crises of the Provisional Government.

1. The April crisis was caused by social tension in the country, increasing as a result of Milyukov's statement about the continuation of the war and the fulfillment of all the items of the agreement of the tsarist government. All these events led to mass rallies, as a result of which a coalition was created, which included both the capitalists and the socialists. This union promised to start negotiations on ending the war, developing new reforms and establishing state control over production.

2. Crises of the Provisional Government (May-July 1917). The policy of the coalition led to an explosion of discontent, as a result of which a massive armed demonstration began in Petrograd. This was used by the Bolsheviks, whose purpose was to organize a demonstration against the incumbent government. However, the government hit this wave by launching an offensive at the front.

3. Crises of the Provisional Government (early July 1917). The July crisis began with the release of the Cadets from the government. At that time an armed rally of workers was held in the capital to create a new Soviet government, which resulted in the death of many people, and martial law was established in the city. Against the Bolsheviks repression began, the Provisional Government imposed the death penalty on the front.

The crisis was aggravated after the defeat and retreat of Russian troops at the front, and culminated in the creation of a new coalition and counter-revolutionary forces. The Provisional Government tried to stabilize the situation and reconcile the political forces, but it did not succeed. The new coalition lasted only a month.

The crises of the Provisional Government ended with the so-called Kornilov mutiny in August 1917, the suppression of which changed the situation in the country, and the influence of the Bolsheviks increased.

Thus, the Provisional Government and the Bolsheviks helped to prevent the attempted coup by Kornilov. In early September, a resolution of the Bolsheviks was adopted, and the crises of the Provisional Government of 1917 contributed to the stabilization of the situation in the country. For this reason, the number of Bolsheviks in the party increased, and the party itself gained authority in the eyes of the masses.

It should be noted that the Provisional Government did not last long. Its members were arrested in late October 1917, when an armed rebellion broke out in the country. The Bolsheviks won the October Revolution, thereby creating a new round in the history of Soviet Russia.