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## Early Life
- **Education**: Graduated with distinction; skilled dancer and actor.
- **University**: Studied law at St Petersburg University, graduated in 1904.
## Political Career
- **1905 Revolution**: Known as Bloody Sunday; significant event for Kerensky.
- **Legal Career**: Began as a political lawyer, defending revolutionary activists.
- **Socialist Revolutionary Party**: Joined and became editor of their newspaper.
- **Arrests and Releases**: Arrested and released due to lack of evidence; forced to relocate temporarily.
## Rise to Prominence
- **Trials**: Became famous for defending revolutionary groups.
- **Duma**: Elected Deputy in 1912; exposed Roman Malinovsky as a spy.
- **World War I Stance**: Initially opposed the war but later supported it to oppose German militarism.
## Provisional Government
- **February Revolution**: Appointed Minister of Justice, abolished capital punishment and introduced reforms.
- **War Minister**: Appointed in April, led troops at the Eastern Front, announced July Offensive.
- **Prime Minister**: Became Prime Minister after Prince Lvov’s resignation.
## Downfall
- **Military Coup**: Fired General Kornilov, who threatened a coup.
- **Arming Bolsheviks**: Asked Bolsheviks for help against Kornilov, leading them to arm themselves.
- **Loss of Authority**: Unable to regain control; Bolshevik power grew.
- **Escape and Exile**: Fled to prevent Bolshevik takeover; later lived in exile in Britain and the US.
## Legacy
- **Failure**: Kerensky’s government lacked support from both sides.
- **Historical Impact**: His actions inadvertently led to Bolshevik rise and the Soviet Union.
- **Reflection**: What could have been different had Kerensky made other choices?
## Conclusion
- Kerensky’s moderate socialism was overshadowed by the rise of Lenin and Trotsky.
- His legacy is complex, with his role being both pivotal and criticized.
- The lecture ends with a call for reflection on historical what-ifs.