Causes of the February Revolution Flashcards
What was the Tsar’s biggest militarey mistake and what effect did it have on his gov
Made himself Commander-in-Chief from September 1917, making him persoanlly responsible for any WW1 failings or defeats. Left Tsarina Alexandra in chage of gov- easily influenced by Rasputin and was of German heritage causing distrust of gov and a lack of loyalty/unity. Tsar also blamed for this, especially when able ministers were dismissed for friends. Ministers were frequently changed, and as a result the situation in cities deteriorated rapidly, and it also meant that the Royal Family and the gov were totally discredited
What effect did the Tsarina’s rule lead to
Distrust and discontent with gov and Royal Family due to German heritage of Tsarina and large number of German names in the Russian court, as well as the Tsarina’s growing domination over the Duma in her husbands absence.
What role was given to Boris Stürmer by the Tsar
Boris Stürmer (Russian but of German descent) promoted by the Tsar to the status of ‘virtual’ dictator. By June he had assumed the positions of Prime Minister/Minister of the Interior, Foreign Minister and Supreme Minister for State Defence. All of these helped to fuel rumour and speculation due to his German descendance.
Describe the number of political appointments during WW1. What does this show
During WW1 4 prime ministers 3 foreign secretaries 3 ministers of defence 6 interior ministers Showed the Tsar's failures to make political reform and also showed corruption as many of those appointed owed their appointments to the fact that they were friends with Rasputin or the Tsarina.
What mistake was made by the Tsar in terms of non-governmental organisations
He refused to co-operate with non-governmental organisations, for example The Union of Zemstvos and the Union of Municipal Councils and Zemgor
Zemstvos and Zemgor
What was the Zemstvo
A zemstvo was an institution of local government set up during the great emancipation reform of 1861 carried out in Imperial Russia by Emperor Alexander II of Russia. Nikolay Milyutin elaborated the idea of the zemstva, and the first zemstvo laws went into effect in 1864.
Reorganized on a democratic basis in 1917, the zemstvos were abolished after the Bolshevik party came to power later that year. The term zemstvo also referred to a 16th-century institution for tax collection.
What was the Orgburo- after this topic but need to know for Consolidation of power
The Orgburo, also known as the Organisational Bureau, of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union existed from 1919 to 1952, when it was abolished at the 19th Congress of the Communist Party and its functions were transferred to the enlarged Secretariat.
When did Tsar Nicholas II attempt to return to Petrograd and what happened
On 28th Feb Nicholas II decided to go back to Petrograd from his military headquarters (at the front) with the belief that his personal prescence would have a calming effect on and help solve the situation in Petrograd, the capital (end riots) but he was forced to stop at Pskov, 200 miles south of his destination/ 100 miles from Petrograd, after his train was diverted by mutinous troops. Here, at Pskov, a group of generals from the stavka (the high command of the Russian army), together with the representatives of the old duma met the tsar to inform him of the seriousness of situation in Petrograd, which made his return both futile and dangerous. They too advised the tsar to abdicate. He tamely accepted this advice.
When was the Tsar told to abdicate and by who
On 1 March, Nicholas’ Chief of General Staff tried to convince him to abdicate.
How were the Tsar’s ministers able to abandon responsibilities and escape the volitile capital
His remaining ministers weren’t prepared to face the growing storm. They used the pretext of an electricity failure in their government offices to abandon their responsibilities and to slip out of the capital.
Who advised the Tsar to abdicate on 28th Feb 1917
Rodzianko (struggled to remain loyal to the official gov up until this point) advised Nicholas that his personal abdication was the only thing that could save the Russian monarchy
Who refused to become Tsar after Nicholas II
The Grand Duke Micheal, eventhough at firts the tsar decided to renounce the throne on behalf of his son, Alexei.
What was the decree of abdication and when was it signed. Which other important event also occured on this date
The decree of abdication was signed by Tsar Nicholas II on the 2nd of March 1917, conforming his abdication and nominating his brother, the Grand Duke Micheal, as the new tsar. However, he was unwilling to take the positioned chalice, refused the title on the pretext that it had not been offered to him by a Russian constituent assembley. (Would have also feared for his life due to public uprisings vs tsardom and distrust of royal family). On this same day, the Provisional Committee declared itself the Provisional Government. On 3rd March PG officially informed the rest of the world of the revolution that had taken place.
When was the Tsar’s abdication publicly proclaimed
4 March 1917
When did the Duma reconvene
14 Feb 1917
