seize land for themselves and many landlords were murdered and their houses and land were taken. The situation in the county side was getting from bad to worse and what Kerensky did to stop the peasants was to send out 'Punishment brigades'. These were troops that would stop the peasants from taking the land using any means possible, usually violence. This only made the people hate the Provisional Government even more.
             All these incidents led to a delay and shortage of harvest, soon leading to food shortages as well as shortages of fuels leaving the people in the city cold and hungry. To make matters worse, the bread and food rations were decreased and the prices of items went up tremendously, things cost more than people could afford, and it resulted in higher crime rates. John Reed, an American journalist comments on the situation:
             "Robberies and house breaking increased. In apartment houses men took turns
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