1.  starter activity
If Parliament passes a new law, why do we agree to obey it?
Why did some people challenge the legitimacy of the Provisional Government right from the start?

2. Did the Provisional Government face an impossible task?
 LOs
To identify the key challenges facing the Provisional Government
To evaluate its success or failure

3. Tauride Palace, Petrograd
Tauride Palace, Petrograd. The Provisional Government met at one end and the Petrograd Soviet at the other

4. Prince Lvov – 1st Prime minister in charge of the Provisional Government. Can you spot him?
Alexander Kerensky Prime Minster from July1917
The members of the Provisional Government. Imagine you are one of the men sitting here. What thoughts are going through your mind? What are the most urgent problems that will need your attention?

5. Was the Provisional Government responsible for its own downfall?
Copy:
The Provisional Government did had a number of successes early on. These reforms were supported by the Soviet:
Freedom of the press
Abolition of the secret police
Release of all political prisoners
Religious freedom
Preparations for Constituent Assembly(which would be the new democratic government of Russia)

6.  Your task
Complete a table assessing the problems facing the PG. Use Murphy, p.55-7
See study history website for a word copy of this worksheet. Film clip: Additional task p33 my revision notes

7. Problems Inexperience Out-of-touch Dual authority
Threat of opposition from political groups or military
Problems facing Russia, e.g. War, economy, social unrest
Unelected – lacked legitimacy

8. How do you feel about the Provisional Government?
Worker
Peasant
Member of the Provisional Government.
Factory Owner
Soldier
Member of All-Russia Soviet

9. Read murphy p54 – 57 and list the problems the PG faced.
Activity One: Which was the biggest problem for the Provisional Government?
Read murphy p54 – 57 and list the problems the PG faced.
2. Evaluate the seriousness of each problem.
Put them in order of = most serious = least serious
Write the headings in order onto your whiteboards

10.  Extension Produce a factoid on Alexander Kerensky
Take notes on his early life, political career and his final years
Include quotes from contemporaries and historians and a photo (and political cartoons if possible)
Write a short judgement on whether he had a positive or negative impact on the PG and post-Revolutionary Russia

11.  Your task Write a press release on the PG. Include the following:
The problems the PG faced when it came to power
The actions (or not) it took to tackle these problems
Your assessment of its success (or failure)

12.  Your task
Hold a press conference with members of the Provisional Government. Try to establish whether the PG did a good job or not under the circumstances.

13. Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Extension
Read p of Figes and complete a a SWOT analysis of the PG in the period following the February Revolution:
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats

14.  Homework Write a detailed essay-plan for the following question:
To what extent is it true to say the PG faced an impossible task?
The plan should be a whole side of A4
Include a range of points for & against the question
Give examples of evidence you would use in note form