RUSSIA -the february / march revolution of 1917

What were the urban unrests from 1916

shortages of food,fuel and basic necessities

the war also caused inflation and wages stagnated - working conditions deteriorated

workers in moscow and petrograd striking

1914-10,000

1915-540,000

1916-880,000

How did the Tsar feel about this

he did not appreciate the scale of the problem , despite what the Okhrana were telling him - believing he could face this as he did in 1905

1st february

the government announced further bread rationing that led to panic buying

23rd february

the women encouraged the putilov workers at the putilov factory to join them.this led to crowds of over 200,000 by the 25h february , the workers began to form soviets to represent their demands and Cossak troops refused to use force to surpress the rebellion

On the 26 february 1917

Mikhail Rodzianko , president of the fourth state duma sent a telegram to the tsar describing the situation as “serious” stating “general discontent is growing” and praying that the “responsibility does not fall on the monarch”

Tuesday 28 February

Nicholas II sent a telegram to Rodzianko offering to share power with the duma the leader replied “The measures you propose are too late , the time for them has gone - there is no return”

what was the significance of the tsar abdicating on a train and his brother declining the role

When Michael declined , it effectivley ended the dynasty leading to a power vacuum in Russia the situation contributed to the rise of a provisional government

2 MArch 1917

what was the significance of the 300,000 workers on strike

Reflected the broader revlutionary sentiment gaining momentum across the country

sheer indication of the discontent and frustration with the tsarist regime , highlighting the failure of the tsar to address their needs,hardships and injustice

SIgnificance of - women joining the demonstrators and strikers from the putilov factory on the streets of petrograd on international womens day chanting slogans;”Down with Hunger” and “bread for workers”

-Urgent demand for basic necessities and social justice

the significance of - a strike at the putilov steel works began , the workers there wanted higher wages in order to be able to deal with the rising inflation

lllustrated the key discontent among the working class

highlighted urgent needs for better working conditions

contributed to the momentum of revolution

defection of the army

The Mutiny: On 12th March, the soldiers of the Petrograd garrison, who had been ordered to suppress the protests, instead mutinied and joined the demonstrators. This was a crucial turning point, as it demonstrated that the military could no longer be relied upon by the Tsar

The provisional government

under prince lvov and later Alexander Kerensky

its members were ex minsiters of the duma

it announced it would govern until a constituent assembly would draw a new constitution for the country

made up of Kadets and other liberal parties

March 1, 1917

Petrograd soviet

First were dominated by Mensheviks and SRs but the bolsheviks became more influential

aimed to look after workers’ and protect their rights

only seven of the first 42 members were workers

Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II:

Tsar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate the throne on March 15 1917

The beginning of protests in Petrograd

8th March 1917 The beginning of protests in Petrograd over food shortages, economic hardship, and the ongoing war. This marks the start of the February Revolution.

The Petrograd Soviet is formed

12th March 1917: and soldiers in Petrograd begin mutinying. By this time, protests are widespread, and the Tsar's authority is collapsing.

key causes

Discontent with Tsarism:

World War I: Russia’s participation in WWI exacerbated the economic and social problems in Russia

Economic Hardships

Failure of Reform:

 An additional poor decision of the tsar was his decision to promote himself to commander in chief

1915.This proved to be a detrimental mistake and a flaw of his judgement.Every backfire was blamed on the tsar enhancing dissent and highlighting his incapability to rule

 Nicholas II sent a telegram to Rodzianko offering to share power with the Duma

 on the Tuesday 28th of february 1917 which the leader replied “The measures you propose are too late , the time for them has gone - there is no return”

One evidence of the tsars poor decisions is his refusal to recognise the severity of the revolution

,despite receiving a transcript from the prime minister warning him of the seriousness and urging him to reform , the tsar took no notice and responded to the message with an incompetent solution of sending troops down to Petrograd in order to calm the revolutionists , soldiers ended up joining the revolutionists realizing the flaws within the tsar and a vast majority were killed.

The bolsheviks growing influence in Russia was a increasing problem for the Tsar

Bolsheviks capitalized on the discontent among the soldiers and the workers , they utilized propaganda to spread their policies and appeal to many  promoted slogans such as “Peace,land and Bread” that appealed to those that were struggling under the autocratic rule and attracted a vast amount of support with individuals that felt ignored by the provisional government ,

what were the issues of the provisional government sharing dual authority with the petrograd soviet

1. Legitimacy: The Provisional Government struggled to assert its authority, while the Soviet represented workers' interests.

2. Conflicting Agendas: The Provisional Government wanted to continue the war, while others like the Mensheviks and some factions within the Bolsheviks were advocating for more drastic changes.

3. Lack of Support: The Provisional Government lacked popular backing, especially from the working class, which favored the Soviet.

These factors led to instability and ultimately contributed to the Bolshevik rise to power.

Problems with dual authority

• Conflicting Objectives: The Provisional Government aimed for a democratic, capitalist system, while the Petrograd Soviet, led by socialists, sought radical changes like workers' control and land redistribution.

• Lack of Clear Leadership: Both bodies had power, but neither had full authority, causing confusion and inefficiency.

• Inability to Address Key Issues: The Provisional Government couldn't resolve critical issues like World War I, land reform, and the monarchy's fate, while the Soviet demanded more radical changes.

• Weakness in Authority: The two authorities lacked cooperation, preventing either from consolidating control.