The Provisional Government

The Provisional Government of 1917 was the highest executive and legislative body of state power in Russia. It was formed after the bourgeois-democratic revolution. There was a Provisional Government from March 15 to November 7. Its formation began after the abdication of Tsar Nicholas 2 from the throne.

The leadership of the Fourth State Duma formed the Provisional Committee on February 27. The chairman was MV Rodzianko. Members of the interim government were ministers:

- Internal affairs and the minister-chairman Ye. G. Lvov (prince);

- Justice - AF Kerensky (Trudovik, and then Socialist-Revolutionary);

- agriculture - AI Shingarev (cadet);

- Finance - MI Tereshchenko (nonparty);

- naval and military - AI Guchkov (Octobrist);

- Foreign Affairs - PN Milyukov and other figures.

The formed government called itself "Temporary" until the Constituent Assembly is convened .

His first declaration was made public on March 3, which indicated a further political program. The activities of the Provisional Government were accompanied by broad democratic changes. So, for religious and political affairs, an amnesty is accepted, restrictions on religion are lifted, estates are abolished. This contributed to the development of the popularity of the new government.

At the very beginning of existence, the Provisional Government received massive public support. In addition, the ruling circles of France, Britain, the United States also supported him.

However, the "new government" did not solve and could not solve any major issue in the country. The solution of the agrarian problem, the elimination of famine, the devastation in the country, the formation of a political line, the state composition and other fundamental questions were postponed to the Constituent Assembly.

The inconsistency of the Provisional Government led to anti-government protests. In April, the first crisis of power developed. The announcement of the Provisional Government about further actions in the foreign policy arena (to wage war to the end, carrying out unswervingly agreements and treaties concluded between the tsar and the allied powers) accelerated its appearance.

As a result of the crisis, the authorities retired AI Guchkov and PN Milyukov. They were succeeded by MI Tereshchenko and AF Kerensky. In May, a coalition government was convened. There were six Socialist ministers in its composition. Turning into a party of power, the associations of Mensheviks and Socialist-Revolutionaries were given the opportunity to implement their program ideas.

On May 6, the Provisional Government promulgated a declaration in which it promised to implement radical agrarian changes. Promises were not realized. The situation in the country has deteriorated noticeably. Soon the discontent of the people provoked a second crisis of power.

On June 18, a mass demonstration took place under Bolshevik slogans and under the leadership of the leaders of the Executive Committee in the Petrograd Soviet.

After the third government crisis, the cadet ministers resign on July 2. The next day, soldiers from the machine-gun regiment took to the streets of Petrograd. The provisional government this demonstration was shot, and then the martial law in Petrograd was declared.

On September 1, A.F. Kerensky formed a new state agency - the Directory (Council of Five). The new government declared Russia a republic, disbanding the Fourth State Duma. However, AF Kerensky began to lose the support of society very quickly. At the Democratic meeting on September 14 it was supposed to solve the issue of the board, but the party members could not come to one opinion.

Kerensky established the third coalition government. But the Bolsheviks decide to seize power by force. As a result, the Provisional Government in 1917 on October 26 (two hours and ten minutes) was arrested.