Disadvantages of Provisional Government
Provisional Government had one many disadvantages:
- its leaders, especially Kerensky, were associated with the middle class
- They were not seen as having anything in common with the working class; therefore, how could they possibly represent them?
- didn't allow poor peasants to have land in rural areas (the government didn't understand the needs of the poor people)
- it was a big mistake to keep Russia in the war
- people hated the war
Challenges to the Authority of the Provisional Government
1. July Days
- Riots occurred on July 16 & 17, 1917
- Riots were due to lack of food
- Russia was still doing badly in the war
- soldiers, sailors, & workers all participated in the riots
- To end the riot the government brought in loyal troops
- Lenin was thought to have started the riots, even though it is now known he had little to do with it
2. Kornilov Affair
- Led by Lavr Kornilov
- Thought that the Provisional Government should end
- Despised all communists and socialists
- Kornilov got troops together and attacked Petrograd
- The opposing side had many Red Guards aka:Bolsheviks (defenders of city)
- Offensive side failed
- Even though the provisional government seemed to win this battle, the real winners were the communists, the Red Guards
- Red Guards were given credit for saving the city!
