Russian Provisional Government, 1917

The Russian Provisional Government was formed in Petrograd after the deterioration of the Russian Empire and the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. When the authority of the Tsar's government began disintegrating after the February Revolution of 1917, two rival institutions, the Duma and the Petrograd Soviet, competed for power. Tsar Nicholas II abdicated on March 15 and his brother, Grand Duke Michael, refused the throne the next day. The Grand Duke wanted the provisional government to rule until the Constituent Assembly determined the form of government in Russia. The provisional government was to provide elections to the Assembly, but its power was effectively limited by the Petrograd Soviet's growing authority. Although at first the Soviet gave support to the Provisional Government, this gradually eroded. Since the Soviet controlled the army, factories and railways and had the support of the workers, this became a period of dual authority.
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