Why Was the Provisional Government Overthrown in Russia - Essay Example

Why was the provisional government overthrown in Russia Russia's 1917 Revolution was a regular continuation of Russian political and social crisis, which was caused by two wars waged by Russian empire in the beginning of the 20th century (Russo-Japanese 1904-1905 and World War I 1914-1918). March (February) revolution of 1917 changed political and social life of Russian empire radically. After the failure of absolutism and abdication of Nicholas II Russia had to build a new state, but first inflation, economical crisis and ruin caused by the WWI had to be overcome. Czar Nicholas II was not an effective ruler and he was unable to improve the situation in empire, which was going to abyss. Nicholas II didn't have political will, didn't have emperor's charisma and was short-eyed politician. His surrounding was unqualified men too and neither they nor he had a clear idea about the situation in the country as they lived in the world of luxury. It's enough to remind that situation in 1917 in Russia was very uneasy: Russia barely survived revolution of 1905, working movement inspired by Marxist ideas was growing on the hand with nationalism in Poland, Finland, Ukraine, Baltic provinces and Caucasus. Imperial government policies were very ineffective and in many respects suppressed dynamic development of province. Domestic and foreign policy caused nation's anger and disrespect both in the eyes of own people and foreigners. As a result, Russian defeats and casualties on the WWI battlefields became a culminating point of Russian troubled times - the March Revolution began. Ultimately, Czar's rule was replaced and two main powers appeared: Provisional Government, which consisted of wealthy elite, and local Soviets, which represented the majority of population. Power dualism in the society ruled only by chaos was not successful. Provisional government with progressive western ideas of future reforms saw Russia as a democratic state ruled by elective parliament and government. Provisional government was established as a government organ to rule the country before the constituent assembly was elected. Provisional government was a legitimate body as prince Mikhail gave it plenary powers after tsar Nicholas II abdicated in favor of his brother prince Mikhail. Provisional government was formed from the most influential political figures of Russian empire: aristocrats, politicians from Duma (including social democrats) and military men. Provisional government proclaimed that it would continue war with Germany until the victory and that constituent assembly would be elected after victory in the war. Besides Provisional government proclaimed the course directed on the spread of civil liberties and democratic freedoms. Provisionary government made attempts to establish monopoly over bread trade and over provisions trade in general in order to avoid speculation, growing social unrest and in order to prevent famine. But in Russia nearly everyone was sure that neither Provisional Government nor the Soviets could adequately solve a number of economical and political problems: only the constituent government would have such plenary functions. At the same time a number of democratic reforms proposed by Provisional government which got the favor of both progressive ruling classes and low classes (workers and peasants) were postponed until the elections to constituent assembly. Property reforms, working day length, economical reforms and political reforms remained to be projects until the end of the war as it was proposed by Kerenskiy (the head of the Provisional government). Provisional government had utopian illusion that victory in the war over Germany would solve economical and political problems, but by the 1917 tensions in society caused by wartime hardships reached the top. Such policies led to the four issues of political crisis in the country. The first crisis started in April after Provisional government failed to find consensus in the issues of participation in the war as socialist members of Provisional government were against war. The second crisis in June was caused by defeat of Russian army in summer campaign of 1917 and it showed that it was absurd to continue the war as the reserves of the country were totally exhausted. July crisis led to a deeper dissidence in society as Provisional government started repressions against party of Bolsheviks and essers accusing them in espionage in favor of Germany and preparation to coup. Because of inability of Provisional government to unite country and stabilize political situation, army officers decided to "save" the situation by establishing military dictatorship. But the revolt of general Kornilov, who wanted to capture Petersburg and dismiss Provisional government, failed as Provisional government united with Bolsheviks, its main political opponent. As the matter of fact soon Russians got disappointed with Provisional Government for many reasons. First of all that government continued participating in WWI and did nothing to stop it while practically all citizens suffered wartime troubles and wished taking their state out of the absurd war. As a result Provisional Government had no real support either among citizens or in the army, so when Bolsheviks attacked it there was nobody to defend it. Provisional government did not have any clear program to solve national question in multinational and multiethnic Russian empire, they had no programs to resist nationalist movements in the most economically and strategically important regions: Ukraine with it's powerful industry and Caucasus rich in oil. Russians realized that Provisional Government provided the same policy Czar did and it became clear that March Revolution could not solve all problems of Russian society so social instability continued. Bolsheviks leaded by Vladimir Lenin used the situation in their own interests. They realized importance of propaganda since they made conclusions from the results of previous revolution. They were masters in manipulating public consciousness using simple but extremely popular and effective slogans such as "All Power to the Soviets!", "Peace, Bread, Land!". Other parties' programs were too complicated and it was the main reason why they failed to receive public support. Bolsheviks' newspaper "Pravda" ("The Truth") had been popularizing socialistic ideas for nearly 15 years making social-democratic party of Bolsheviks popular in the face of proletariat. Trotsky writes in his book the History of Russian revolution the following words: "To the question, Who led the February revolution we can then answer definitely enough: Conscious and tempered workers educated for the most part by the party of Lenin. But we must here immediately add: This leadership proved sufficient to guarantee the victory of the insurrection, but it was not adequate to transfer immediately into the hands of the proletarian vanguard the leadership of the revolution."(Trotsky, L. History of Russian revolution p. 657) At the same time Bolsheviks were perfectly organized and had great influence on local Soviets, which represented workers, peasants and soldiers. In fact, Soviets were controlled by the Bolsheviks' Central Committee and did what their leaders ordered them to do. Another important reason of Bolsheviks' success was their military power - the Red Guard that was dedicated to their revolution and was able to resist government's forces. Own military forces became an effective instrument of political struggle in revolutionary chaos and anarchy because only well-organized and strong political party was able to capture the power. Bolsheviks knew that and sent propagandists to the frontline who gained soldiers support and turned them into Bolsheviks' allies. Their socialist slogans were very popular among all nationalities of empire as they proposed equality and freedom of self-determination. For a country with chauvinistic national policy of superiority of Russians it was very important. Such practices appeared to be very successful as millions of people joined Bolsheviks' party and were ready to fight for their Soviet power as all of them had common interests: struggle against imperial war, against monarchists and bourgeoisie, struggle for civil liberties, for land and cheap food It is also worth mentioning that Germans financially supported Lenin and his party as they knew that Bolsheviks were going to take Russian empire out of war. It doesn't mean that Germans as some historians say were initiators of revolution, but in fact, it was supported by them and sure it helped Lenin. And the last important reason of Bolsheviks' success was their leader V. Lenin. He succeeded uniting different social groups, such as peasants, workers, soldiers, who had different interests but fought for common victory, for new life and for new order in the state. "Bolshevik Party, as the party of radical extremism, attracted the most radical and impatient individuals from the factories and garrisons." (Rex A. Wade The Russian Revolution, 1917 (New Approaches to European History) p.208). All these reasons caused Bolsheviks' victory - overthrow of Provisional Government and establishment of Soviet power. But at the same time their policy directed on creating new social and political system, fighting counterrevolution and overcoming postwar outcomes was as difficult as capturing power. Lenin knew that to strengthen his power he had to stop the war because that was the only condition of preserving Russia from definitive disintegration and catastrophic war losses. That's why one of the Bolsheviks' leaders Leon Trotsky signed a peace treaty in Brest and that was the end of WWI for Russia. All historians notice that new Russian power was formed in extremely complicated and difficult conditions because all neighboring states feared workers' and peasants' victory in Russia (Bolshevik's domestic and foreign policy had the main aim: "a class war, both in domestic and international terms: Russian proletariat against Russian bourgeoisie; international revolution (as exemplified by the Soviet Republic) against international capitalism") (Sheila Fitzpatrick The Russian Revolution p.56) and unleashed military intervention. Moreover, such lands as Poland, Finland, Ukraine and Baltic states proclaimed independence from Russia and that was another great problem for Lenin's power because future Bolsheviks' foreign policy was directed on reunifying the state. Making a conclusion I'd like to notice that Bolsheviks' Revolution was a result of Russian foreign and domestic policy's failures, chauvinistic governing of empire's provinces and economical crisis caused by the war. World War I strengthened social resistance and conflicts and showed outdated structure of Russian empire, which was not the only empire to collapse during this war. Russian society exhausted by 3 years of senseless war led by untalented and unqualified commanders wanted peace and stability. Low classes saw no need in democratic freedoms and European government, as they understood that main social problems would remain to be unsolved. Bolsheviks appeared to be able to propose an alternative to existing chaos at least by their slogan to stop the war. References: 1. Fitzpatrick, Sheila The Russian Revolution Oxford University Press 2001 2. Wade, Rex A. William Beik The Russian Revolution, 1917 (New Approaches to European History) Cambridge University Press 2000 3. Trotsky, Leon History of Russian Revolution available at web-resource http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/works/1930-hrr/ 4. G. Hosking, A history of twentieth century Penguin 1997 Read More