Alexander Kerensky
Alexander Kerensky was born in 1881 and was from a middle-class background. He was educated as a lawyer and once he finished university he began practising in St Petersburg. His profession led him to fighting for the rights of revolutionaries and victims of the Russian police, thus demonstrating his anti-Tsarist views, by enabling these people to continue he was contributing to a revolutionary situation. He was a socialist but held moderate-liberal views, contrastingly to Lenin who held radical socialist views and would be a contender for the leadership of Russia in the October revolution. Kerensky joined the Social Revolutionary Party during the 1905 Revolution and by 1912 had become a prominent politician, as he was elected into the Fourth Duma and became a leading member for the SR’s in the Duma. He developed a reputation as an investigator and, in 1912, was sent to investigate the Lena Goldfields Massacre. Upon his return he spoke publicly and critically of the failures of the Tsarist government and military. By the February Revolution he had become a highly skilled and articulate orator spreading revolutionary message, and gained a flowing particularly among the working class. The call for the Tsar to stand down as head of state or to be deposed came from Kerensky, an influential impact on the revolutionary situation.
Book: Reaction and Revolution: Russia 1894-1924, 3rd Edition, Michael Lynch Website: http://alphahistory.com/russianrevolution/alexander-kerensky/
Book: Reaction and Revolution: Russia 1894-1924, 3rd Edition, Michael Lynch Website: http://alphahistory.com/russianrevolution/alexander-kerensky/
As a revolutionary, Kerensky provided a figure for the masses to idolise. Figes identifies the manner in which peasants “thought of politics in monarchical terms” as the “root of the [personality] cults of Kerensky, Kornilov and Lenin.” The desire to replace the Tsar with a “peasant king”, for whom Kerensky provided a face, influenced the creation of a revolutionary situation. Kerensky’s work as a socialist lawyer defending persons accused of political crimes can be considered as increasing the number of tsarist oppositionists, as well as giving the impression that the tsarist system could be defied. Further, Kerensky was elected as a member of the Fourth Duma, out of which formed the Progressive Bloc and later, Provisional Committee, that went against the Tsar’s order of suspension and dismissal. Tsarina Alexandra stated, on the February Revolution, “this will all pass and become calm if only the Duma will behave itself.” Through his involvement in part of the collapse of tsardom’s traditional support base, Kerensky contributed to the unfolding of a revolutionary situation.
VIVIAN
VIVIAN
Alexander Kerensky was a key figure in the Russian revolution. Joining the SR party following the 1905 revolution, Alexander Kerensky idealised moderate socialism. Entering the public life when he was elected to sit in the fourth duma as a member of the trudovics – a labour faction of the SR’s, Kerensky increased in popularity up to 1917 among the working class. In march he was elected as the vice chairman of the newly formed Petrograd soviet and became the minister of judgment. In these positions Kerensky oversaw the liberalisation of the tsarist legal code, the abolition of the death penalty, improvement of civil rights and legitimised ethnic and religious discriminations were removed. Kerensky was later appointed as Minister for war and supported Russia through World War One where he eventually proved himself a poor leader ordering disastrous offensive attacks. These failures and the military’s lack of morale and supplies would produce more than 400,000 casualties. Kerensky remained popular and was chosen as prime minister following the july days. As prime minister, Kerensky adopted a firmly anti-bolshevik position reintroducing the death penalty in the military, ordering the arrest of any Bolshevik leaders or organisers and remained adamant about keeping Russia in war. however his authority was continually challenged by his growing unpopularity and the threat of being replaced by a military dictatorship. In late 1917, Kerensky, now devoid of power, was overthrown by Bolshevik forces.
ALIX
ALIX
Alexander Kerensky was originally appointed as Minister of Justice in the new provisional government. Soon after being appointed Minister of War and later Prime Minister. At the same time he was elected as the vice-chairman of the Petrograd Soviet, making him the most powerful man involved in both parties and a very popular man in Russia’s major cities during the February revolution. Finding it almost impossible to keep the people happy whilst fighting the war. The February revolution saw him begin to lose his hold on Russias military and political situation. Although maintaining his popularity as Russia’s Prime Minister. As 1917 progressed however, his liberal-socialist views caused him to be questioned by both sides of politics. Isolating the conservatives with his erratic reforms and exiling the Bolsheviks, including Lenin, by August. Attempting to gain support from the Soviets, seeping socialism into his government. The October revolution saw him order raids on Bolshevik buildings although to no success. Finally seeing him flee Russia on the 26th of October.
CALLUM
CALLUM