LEADERS
The Provisional government was formed from the Duma. It was led by Prince Lvov in the beginning. After the July Days, an armed protest against the government, Alexander Kerensky took power. He soon alienated several political groups, and as a consequence, he couldn't organize forces to defend his government in the October Revolution. He escaped to Western Europe in the end.
UNPOPULAR POLICIES
The Provisional Government had several highly unpopular policies. The most disliked of which was continuing the war. In fact, it sent out squads to kill deserters. The war led to other problems, such as fuel and food shortages. The Provisional Government restricted land use for the peasants. When the peasants started to take land from nobles who escaped, the Provisional Government sent soldiers to force the land away from them.
DUAL POWER
From the start, the Provisional government had to share power with a rival group. This group was called the Petrograd Soviet. On March 1st,they issued the Order No. 1. It decreed that soldiers should listen to the Provisional government, except when the Provisional governments orders ran contrary to the Petrograd Soviet. In addition to this, many people supported the Petrograd Soviet over the Provisional Government. They did this because they felt that the Provisional Government did nothing to solve Russia's problems. In contrast, the Petrograd Soviet offered to leave the war, give the peasants land, and stop the food shortages.
THE INVIETABLE FALL
The fall of the Provisional Government was conducted by a group within the Soviet, called the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks were led by Leon Trotsky and Vladimir Lenin. They organized the Red Guards, a militia, and used it to peacefully capture strategic points in Petrograd on the night of October 24. On the night of the 25th, the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets met and created the Soviet government,. The Provisional government was over.
All orders issued by the Military Commission of the State Duma shall be carried out, except those which run counter to the orders and decrees issued by the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies.
-(Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, 1917)