March-Oct 1917
Between the February Revolution and the October Revolution, Russia was governed by two concurrent governments: the liberal Provisional Government and the radical Petrograd Soviet.
Members of the Provisional Committee of the State Duma. Photo by Karl Bulla (1917)
Provisional Government
The deputies of the Duma elected the Provisional Government immediately after Nicholas II abdicated. Its role was to delegate power from the tsar to the Constituent Assembly, which was to be elected in the near future. The Provisional Government was led by Prince Georgy Lvov.
Petrograd Soviet
The Petrograd Soviet was the representative body of the workers and soldiers of Petrograd. It was led by Leon Trotsky and was a harsh critic and watchdog over the Provisional Government in every respect.
The Provisional Government had a legal means to exercise power but the Petrograd Soviet actually had more support from the people.
Events
The Provisional Government proved to be incapable of governing and faced a series of crises.
In July 1917, new Prime Minister Alexander Kerensky managed to suppress the July Days uprising of Kronstadt sailors. As the uprising was connected to Bolsheviks, Lenin and his conspirators had to go into hiding.
In August 1917, the Kornilov Affair counter-attack from the military supreme commander threatened Kerensky too. He turned to the Petrograd Soviet, which was now under the control of the Bolsheviks, for help and gave them arms.
Lenin decided it was time to take power by force.
Dual Power
March-Oct 1917
Between the February Revolution and the October Revolution, Russia was governed by two concurrent governments: the liberal Provisional Government and the radical Petrograd Soviet.
Members of the Provisional Committee of the State Duma. Photo by Karl Bulla (1917)
Provisional Government
The deputies of the Duma elected the Provisional Government immediately after Nicholas II abdicated. Its role was to delegate power from the tsar to the Constituent Assembly, which was to be elected in the near future. The Provisional Government was led by Prince Georgy Lvov.
Petrograd Soviet
The Petrograd Soviet was the representative body of the workers and soldiers of Petrograd. It was led by Leon Trotsky and was a harsh critic and watchdog over the Provisional Government in every respect.
The Provisional Government had a legal means to exercise power but the Petrograd Soviet actually had more support from the people.
Events
The Provisional Government proved to be incapable of governing and faced a series of crises.
In July 1917, new Prime Minister Alexander Kerensky managed to suppress the July Days uprising of Kronstadt sailors. As the uprising was connected to Bolsheviks, Lenin and his conspirators had to go into hiding.
In August 1917, the Kornilov Affair counter-attack from the military supreme commander threatened Kerensky too. He turned to the Petrograd Soviet, which was now under the control of the Bolsheviks, for help and gave them arms.
Lenin decided it was time to take power by force.
Georgy Lvov