The Provisional Government set up by the Duma in March 1917 had some early, limited successes, but overall it was not very successful and ultimately failed, being overthrown by the Bolsheviks in October 1917.
Early successes
- It filled the power vacuum after the February Revolution and was internationally recognized as the legal government of Russia, preventing complete state collapse in the short term.
- It introduced wide political freedoms (speech, press, assembly, universal suffrage) and began to dismantle elements of the old autocratic order, putting Russia briefly on the brink of establishing a democratic system.
Major failures
- It chose to continue fighting in the First World War, which led to further military defeats, economic strain, and growing unpopularity among soldiers and workers.
- It repeatedly postponed land reform and elections to a Constituent Assembly, so peasants and soldiers increasingly took land and local power into their own hands, undermining the government’s authority.
Political weakness
- Power in 1917 was “dual”: the Provisional Government depended on the support of the Petrograd Soviet and never gained firm control over the army, factories, or countryside.
- Its indecision and weakness allowed radical parties, especially the Bolsheviks, to grow in strength, culminating in the October Revolution that removed the Provisional Government from power after only about eight months.
Overall assessment
Aspect| Successes| Failures / Limits
---|---|---
Political reform| Granted major civil liberties and promised democracy.12|
Failed to hold timely elections; remained an unelected, temporary body.16
War policy| Maintained alliance commitments and central state structures.17|
Continued an unpopular war, worsening economic and social crisis.18
Social & land issues| Discussed land reform and labour measures.110| Delayed
land settlement; lost control as peasants and soldiers acted on their own.18
Political stability| Prevented immediate chaos after the Tsar’s abdication.17|
Never secured broad support, lost authority, and was overthrown in October.69
In summary, it was moderately successful at starting liberal reforms and holding the state together for a few months, but it failed to solve Russia’s key problems or secure durable authority, so historians generally judge it as a failed or very limited experiment.
