Russia: February 1917 Revolution

This revolution ended with the Tsar abdicating.

WWI

In WWI, Russia allied itself with the Triple Entente.

Here are the issues that the war caused for Russia:

Food Shortages

  • Mass peasant conscription
    • Peasants were the ones that made the food
  • Peasants were also sent to work in factories, so there were even fewer people to produce food
  • Farmland & possible farmland was lost to the war (scorched Earth)
  • Germany cut off trade for Russia, causing more shortages--Russia was almost entirely dependent on imports
    • food prices skyrocket
    • the government prints more money, so inflation ensued
  • Railway issues (more below)

Railways

  • Bad infrastructure
  • Used to transport supplies for soldiers, so it couldn’t be used to deliver food to citizens

When it comes to soldiers, there was incredibly low morale following defeats, so many deserted.

The Tsar

  • Nicholas became the Commander in Chief
    • Even though he was advised against it, the Tsar went because he believed it to be his duty
  • Terrible for his reputation, because he was not experienced militarily
    • Before taking over, he could blame the generals--now the blame falls on him

The Tsarina

  • Running the country because Nicholas was gone
  • Believed to be influenced by Rasputin
  • Because she wanted Nicholas to retain his authority, Alexandra fired ministers and rehired ministers that were incompetent “yes men”
    • Only added to the belief that the monarchy was corrupt
  • Belief that the Tsarina was secretly helping Germany

The Revolution Itself

On 22 February 1917, workers in Petrograd went on strike

  • They were joined the next day, International Women’s Day, by female protesters marching against food rationing
  • More protestors joined, demanding the replacement of the Tsar and an end to the war
  • The Tsar ordered that the military be used to suppress the protests
    • The military refused
    • Some soldiers joined the protests
    • Tsar lost control of the army
  • Tsar advised to abdicate (March, 1917)
  • His brother refused to take the throne, so the Romanov Dynasty ended

Post-Revolution

Following the Tsar’s abdication:

  • Provisional government formed
  • Petrograd Soviet formed simultaneously
    • Any laws created by the provisional government must have been approved by the Petrograd Soviet