Feb/March revolution 1917 Flashcards
1
Q
What was the nature of the Feb/March revolution?
What was the immediate factor that triggered it?
What was the prolonged factor that triggered it?
A
- Spontaneous
- Hostilities over bread-shortages
- Tsar (autocracy) unable to adapt to change & unwilling to give up power
- In addition the War exacerbated the socio-economic position Russia was in
2
Q
In 1914 how many workers were on strike?
In 1916 how many workers were on strike?
What type of unrest does this show?
A
- 10,000
- 880,000
- Urban
3
Q
Example of Rural unrest at this time?
(2 things)
A
- Most young peasants conscripted into the Army (decrease in workforce)
- Grain prices were kept low so remaining peasants could not profit, made worse by inflation increase
4
Q
What was the course of the revolution?
A
- 14th February: Strikes in Petrograd
- Government news that bread would be rationed from 1st March brought long queues & riots, police struggled to keep order - 22nd February: 20,000 workers locked out of Putilov steel works after pay talks collapsed
- Workers in other factories went on strike in support - 23rd February: Striking workers marched with women on international women’s day
- Students & women from bread queues joined the march (turning point) - 24th February: 200,000 workers on strike & there was no organisation of crowds from political parties (purely the people)
- 25th February: 250,000 workers on strike (over 1/2 capital striking)
- Shalfeev (head of mounted police) dragged from his horse & shot
- Civilians shot by soldiers (Nevskii Prospekt) some Cossacks refused to attack strikers - 26th February: Rodzianko (Duma president) sent Tsar telegram warning him
- Tsar ignored telegram & ordered Duma to dissolve the next day - 27th February: Tsar ordered Khabalov (Petrograd military district commander) to restore order by military force
- 40 demonstrators killed
- Mutiny began in Volynskii regiment, soldiers gave rifles to civilians (no military loyalty)
- Duma held a meeting (despite Tsar’s orders) to set up Provisional committee to take government
- Revolutionaries set up Petrograd Soviet, planning to take over government, began organising food stuffs to Petrograd - 28th February: Nicholas began to make his way back to Petrograd
- Sent telegram offering to share power with Duma
5
Q
Where were the old Bolsheviks at the time of revolution?
A
- Lenin exiled in Switzerland
- Stalin in Siberia
6
Q
During the revolution what did socialist groups help set up?
Which was the most important?
A
- Local socialist groups set up Soviets (councils)
- Petrograd Soviet, having 3,000 members by 10th March
7
Q
How did the abdication of the Tsar unfold?
Why did he do this
A
- 28th Feb: Nicholas began his journey back to Petrograd from his Military HQ
- Train forced to stop at Pskov (200 miles south of Petrograd)
- 1st March: Nicholas chief of General staff persuaded him to abdicate
- 2nd March: Nicholas agreed to abdicate, him & his family were placed under house arrest
- Abdicated for the sake of himself & his son Aleksei because he was ill with haemophilia & was unable to rule
- He recognised he lost power
- So Monarchical rule ended, Russia having had it from 1613 (Mikhail I)
8
Q
Who did the Tsar name as the new Tsar as his son was unfit?
Did he accept?
A
- Brother Mikhail
- Mikhail refused the position (obviously)
9
Q
Where did political authority pass to after the Tsar had abdicated?
What was this known as?
A
- Provisional government
- Petrograd Soviet
- Dual authority (Dvoevlastie)
10
Q
What was the structure of the PG?
(6 things)
A
- Drawn from from the state Duma (established following the October manifesto)
- PG was more powerful than previously as it had legislative authority
- It was recognised as a temporary solution as they hoped for a new constitution
- Prince Lvov headed the PG (Aristocrat & zemstvo leader)
- Supported by Tsarist civil service, army officers & the police
- Other members included Kadets, Octoberists & other liberals
11
Q
Who played an important role between both the PG & PS?
What did he do?
A
- Alexander Kerensky (Socialist Revolutionary & member of the state Duma) was the only member of both authorities
- Ensured political cohesion between both wings (left & right, PG & PS)
12
Q
What was the structure of the PS?
(4 things)
A
- Executive committee made up of socialist intellectuals (Mensheviks & SR’s)
- Members of the committee were elected unlike the PG
- Represented workers, soldiers & peasants to be a more democratic & less elitist organisation
- Elections were held regularly in the PS
13
Q
On 1st March what did the Petrograd Soviet release?
What did this entail?
(3 things)
A
- Order No.1
- Aimed to improve rights & respect given to soldiers by giving them full citizens rights if off duty
- Military units were to elect a deputy to the PS & agreed to be under control of the PS
- Military commission of Duma (PG) was only to be obeyed providing the PS agreed to the order
14
Q
What were the similarities & differences between the 1905 St Petersburg Soviet & the 1917 Petrograd Soviet?
A
- Similarities:
- Both directly elected by factory workers & soldiers
- Regular elections
- Delegates received the same pay as workers
- Differences:
- 1905, intellectuals who were members of radical parties were allowed to advice the 1905 soviet
- 1917, this changed as the PS allowed them to become members, only then could they advise
15
Q
What was the nature of PG?
(4 points)
A
- PG had major problems largely due to being
‘revolutionarily defensive’ - This was a policy of continuing WW1 in order to defend the revolution
- However by continuing war the problems Russia was facing would continue e.g. Not enough peasants to harvest crops/higher pay, less hours
- Powers of PG limited vs PS who had popular support (representing the working classes who enacted Feb rev)
