Why did the Provisional Government delay the solution of the agrarian question? The activities of the Provisional Government

After the February Revolution of 1917 , the Provisional Government came to power, which lasted from the beginning of March to the end of October. At first, the new government enjoyed very high confidence and prestige among the population and political parties (except the Bolshevik). However, the most important agrarian question the Provisional Government did not decide, because of which it lost support, and was overthrown quite easily.

Plot of land

To solve the issue of land with the government, the Main Land Committee was created, most of which was built on party programs of the Cadets. The committee declared the reform, which was aimed at transferring agricultural land to the peasants for use. By default, it was assumed that the terms of the transfer could be either confiscation or alienation. The latter caused the main controversy: to alienate with or without ransom. Given the obvious disagreement, however, the authorities did not discuss this issue at an official level.

So, why did the Provisional Government delay the solution of the agrarian question? Reasons should be sought primarily in the government itself. Very many representatives of the Cadet Party, who were members of the main government body, themselves had large land plots with which they were not ready to part.

The main provisions of the reform

It was decided to prevent the fragmentation of allotments providing basic necessities, production facilities, as well as the plots of those landowners who produced large yields and had high rates of productivity. As a result, large farms were supposed to be left for their owners.

In general, the reform stipulated the possibility of alienation of land, but the peasants had to pay an unbearable ransom for this. In addition, the land could be obtained mainly from those who already had their own household. Large holdings at the same time remained for their owners, if the land use they provided was twice the average personal subsidiary farm.

Why did the Provisional Government delay the solution of the agrarian question?

The explanation lies in the authorities' fear of shaking the foundations of private property. Therefore, to take serious measures that would in any case violate the rights of landowners, no one dared. Do not forget that at that time Russia was an active participant in the First World War. A huge part of the officers somehow owned large land plots. To worry those who led the army, did not risk: it could turn into disastrous consequences.

At the same time, an imitation of the decision was nevertheless undertaken. So, two decrees were issued. According to the first ("On the protection of crops"), the landowners pledged to lease unoccupied plots to those who intended to sow them. The second provided for the creation of land committees, the main function of which was to prepare for agrarian reform. They were created in 30% of the provinces of the European part of Russia. The presence of the latter was not very satisfactory to the government. However, the understanding of the growing civil position among the peasants forced them to make concessions, while the authorities hoped that they would be able to use them for their own purposes. The implementation of the reform itself was postponed without delay. This function was sought to be shifted to the Constituent Assembly, which could not call in any way.

Peasant disagreement

The Bolsheviks called their reasons why the Provisional Government dragged out the solution of the agrarian question, and skillfully used them, warming up the already fire-dangerous situation. The country began to be shaken by spontaneous rallies of peasants, who demanded laws that would provide them with land rights. The government's rulings were interpreted very broadly, so much so that it came down to simply taking the land and dividing it among the peasants. The latter demanded communal land use, in which there would be no individual peasants.

Infantiness of the authorities in resolving this issue led to the fact that in the autumn natural socialization of the land began - the removal of allotments from the landlords. The first Provisional Government could not cope with the process of redistribution that was growing like a snowball. It was in these circumstances that the slogans of the Bolsheviks were at hand. Experts, analyzing the reasons why the Provisional Government delayed the solution of the agrarian question, agree that it all boiled down not only to the fear of losing control, but also had its own "selfish" interest.