Feb/march Revolution Flashcards
Causes
Began as a spontaneous uprising triggered by bread shortages but it was rooted in long years of suffering and frustration under an autocracy that was unable to adapt to change but unwilling to give up power
Tuesday 14th feb
There was strikes in Petrograd
News that bread would be rationed from 1 March brought long queues and riots. The police struggles to keep order
Wednesday 22 feb
20,000 workers were locked out of the Putilov Steel Works after pay talks collapsed
Worked in other factories went on strike
Thursday 23 feb
Striking workers joined the traditional March for international women’s day
Student and women from the bread queues joined the March
The city fell into chaos and order was not restored until the evening
Friday 24 feb
20,000 workers were on strike and there were spontaneous demonstrations
There was no obvious organisation of the crowds from any radical political parties
Saturday 25 feb
250,000 people were on strike
Civilians were shot by soldiers on the Nevskii Prospekt but some cossacks refused to attack the strikers
Sunday 26 feb
Duma president sent a telegram to the Tsar warning him of the serious situation in Petrograd
Nicholas ignored the warning and ordered the duma to dissolve the next day
Monday 27 feb
Nicholas ordered Khabalov to restore order by military force
A mutiny in the volynskii regiment began. Soldiers joined the protestors
Duma held a meeting held a meeting and set up PG to take over the government
The same evening revolutionaries set up the Petrograd soviet which also intended to take over the government
Tuesday 28 feb
Nicholas started to make his way back to Petrograd
He sent a telegram offering to share power with the Duma
Issues of leadership
Almost all the major Bolshevik leaders were absent at the time of the revolution E.g Lenin was in Switzerland and Stalin Siberia
The revolution appeared spontaneously and leaderless
During and following the revolution local socialists set up soviets with the most important being the Petrograd soviet
Abdication of the tsar
At the end of February tried to get back to Petrograd from his military headquarters but was forced to stop at Pskov
On 1 March chief of general staff tried to convince him to abdicate
Agreed to abdicate on 2 March. Nicholas and his family placed under house arrest along with most of his council of ministers
Establishment of dual authority
Members of Petrograd soviet were elected unlike PG
PG meant to be temporary until a constitutional assembly could be elected
Kerensky only member of both and helped negotiate a dual authority
Areas of conflict as soviet encouraged workers to defy authority and assert rights but PG wanted more discipline
