World War I's Responsibility for the Collapse of the Provisional Government in 1917

World War I's Responsibility for the Collapse of the Provisional Government in 1917

The Provisional Government assumed control of Russia following the

abdication of the Tsar Nicholas II. It only had a brief period in

power lasting about seven months. Historians have disputed the main

cause for its failure, Marxist historians, such as John Reed, have

rewarded it to the Bolshevik's effective propaganda machine, whilst

more revisionist historians, such as Christopher Read, take a more

encompassing position on the issue. They lay blame at a range of

factors such as the First World War and the dual authority in relation

to the Petrograd Soviet. Revisionist historians have also benefited

from the post-glasnost era and hence have both greater access to more

sources as well as the advantage of hindsight. To understand the

reasons for the collapse of the Provisional Government it is crucial

to be aware of the events leading up to the October Revolution and the

atmosphere politically and socio-economically at the time.

The year 1917 was a turbulent year of strikes, bad harvests and

inflation. 'Week by week food became scarcer'[1] and any that was

available usually went to the soldiers. Russian agriculture was

primitive and machinery was rarely used hence production was not

efficient. The War worsened problems further since the excessive

printing of money led to inflation and the economy could not sustain

such a demanding conflict. The political situation was no better.

Democracy had been imposed on a country in which masses did not

understand the concept. Furthermore, greater freedoms were given at a

time of war, which were not available...

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...lt of a variety of factors and reasons but the

far-reaching effects of the war were to have devastating results in

both social and economic quarters. Moreover, the war on help increase

the opposition to the government and led to their downfall in October

1917.

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[1] John Reed, Ten Days That Shook the World (1919)

[2] Maxim Gorky, letter to his son (April, 1917)

[3] E.H. Wilcox was very impressed with Kerensky and praised him in

his book, Russia's Ruin (1919)

[4] Morgan Philips Price, My Three Revolutions (1969)

[5] Extract from an interview of Alexander Kerensky by Harold Williams

[6] Extract from an interview of Alexander Kerensky by Harold Williams

[7] Leon Trotsky, statement made to the Petrograd Soviet (24th

October, 1917)