Why Did The Duma Set Up A Provisional Government

After refusing the Tsar’s order to defuse, the Duma set up a provisional government to rule over the state, premiership was given to Prince Lvov. At the same time the soviets were elected to rule local governments by the masses, they however accepted the legality of the provisional government(as did foreign governments) under the condition that it not hinder the aims of the soviets. From this an interesting position arose, the Provisional government ruled the country with the support of only the middle class, while the soviets had the support of the majority, but did not want to rule. As a result the rule of the provisional government depended on the conditional support of the soviets. In an attempt to boost their own power and popularity, the government gave back many political and civil freedoms(eight hour day, legalization of strikes, freedom of speech, press, etc.) and gave partial control of the army to the Petrograd Soviet. The latter of which leading to an even further decrease of the fighting spirit of
Russian forces all over the battlefield turn to the Bolsheviks, calling for an end to their involvement in the war. The government had promised Constituent Assembly and never delivered on it, much to the upsetment of the peasants. At the same time the price of food and other necessities continued to rise. These things combined turned many people against the Provisional Government. The situation was perfect for another party to gain control. Kerensky, a leading member of the Socialist Revolutionary Party, became a member of the Provisional Government and was eventually responsible for sending under equipped troops into battle and inviting the Mensheviks to take part in the administration. As such the Socialist Revolutionary Party and the Mensheviks were discredited in the eyes of the public and the Bolsheviks rose in popularity as a result of their anti war