RUSSIAN PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT

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The 'Russian Provisional Government' was formed in Petrograd after the deterioration of the Russian Empire and the tsar's abdication.
When the authority of the tsar's government began disintegrating after the February Revolution of 1917, two rival institutions, the Duma and the Petrograd Soviet, competed for power. Tsar Nicholas II abdicated on March 15 and his brother, Grand Duke Michael, refused the throne the next day. The Grand Duke wanted the provisional government to rule until the Constituent Assembly determined the form of government in Russia. The provisional government was to provide elections to the Assembly, but its power was effectively limited by the Petrograd Soviet's growing authority. Although at first the Soviet gave support to the Provisional Government, this gradually eroded. Since the Soviet controlled the army, factories and railways and had the support of the workers, this became a period of dual authority.
The Provisional Government was led first by Prince Georgy L'vov and then by Alexander Kerensky. It succeeded in organizing the elections, but failed to end Russia's involvement in World War I, thereby weakening its popularity among Russia's war-weary people. In fact, it even launched an offensive against the German and Austro-Hungarian army in July 1917. This Kerensky Offensive, as it was called, was a failure which further eroded support for the government. The government was reluctant to make decisive policy decisions, precisely because it was supposed to be ''provisional''. This weakness led to a challenge from the right in the form of the Kornilov Affair, and then from the left, which organized the October Revolution, transferring power to the Soviets controlled by Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks then replaced the government with their own which, until the Russian Constituent Assembly was disbanded, was also called "provisional".

Contents

Announcement of its formation

Prime Ministers of the Provisional Government

Deposing

See also

Reference

Announcement of its formation

Below is the text of the public announcement of the formation of the Provisional Government which was published in ''Izvestia'' the day after its formation.^[1]

Prime Ministers of the Provisional Government

★ Prince Georgy Yevgenyevich L'vov (March 23–July 21)

★ Alexander Kerensky (July 21–November 8)

Deposing

The Provisional Government was deposed as a result of the October Revolution.

See also

★ List of leaders of Russia

★ Alexey Peshekhonov

Reference

1. http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/firstprovgovt.htm