February/March Revolution 1917

Question 1

What were the 4 main causes of the February/March Revolution?

Answer 1

1 - Tsar Nicholas incompetence.
2- Impact of WW1 and impact on economy and army
3- Long term discontent w regime
4- Short term lead up ( International Women’s day)

Question 2

Explain Tsar Nicolas Incompetence’s Role in the February Revolution

Answer 2

• Nicholas was completely incompetent to rule Russia effectively + made poor unwise decisions that led to worsening relations with government and hardship for civilians and soldiers alike.
• When Duma was recalled during ww1 and formed the ‘progressive bloc’ to have more control in war Nicholas closed it in 1915 alienating liberals.
• This was exacerbated following Nicholas shunning of the Zemstva. He was handed opportunity to transfer responsibility for failing war effort onto a civilian government but refused, instead turning it into focus for liberal discontent.
• His refusal to accept any reductions to his apsolute ‘divine’ power. Decision to appoint himself Commander + Chief of the Russian Army/Navy sparked all Russian general staff to drop support for him.
• His position also left control of Petrograd with Tsarina and Rasputin leading to a severely weakened government.

Question 3

What was Impact of WW1 on the Tsar?

Answer 3

• Initially war was popular but after small victories were met with huge defeats such as Battle of Tannenburg 1914 where 300,000 dead or wounded it became deeply unpopular.
• Appointing himself Commander + Chief caused him to loose all confidence and support from Russian general staff. Thus personally making it worse + his position made him seem al more responsible for disasters befalling his troops/soldiers.
• Became disliked + focus for further Liberal discontent after he shunned the Zemstva an institute for political reform to help the war effort. He was given the opportunity to save his own position by transferring responsibility for war efforts onto civilian government yet he failed and refused to make such move.
• The Tsars refusal to corporate with the ‘progressive bloc’ increased political discontent and caused them to discuss the tsars abdication.

Question 4

What impact did WW1 have on the Russian Army?

Answer 4

• Russia entered WW1 with the largest army in the world 1,400,000 later extended to 5,000,000 but core issue. was that they couldn’t actually arm all its soldiers could only supply 4.6 million. War had estimated 2 million killed and similar amount of civilians.
• Lack of weponds, amunition, equiptment + clothing for troops contributed to numerous defeats.
• They had early defeats which had huge impacts. In 1914 Russia invaded Germany with 2 large armies and were completely destroyed by smaller German forces + Battle of Tannenberg led to deaths of 300,000.
• Nicholas decisions ie C + C also exacerbated these core issues as the war effort was no longer controlled by trained experienced commanders contributing to further defeats which in turn contributed to anger feeling the 1917 revolution.

Question 5

What was the Impact of WW1 on the Economy?

Answer 5

The strain of war worsened and exacerbated the already dire economic climate of Russia

• Collapse of railways meant transport of goods and weaponry couldn’t function making it increasingly difficult to keep up with the war effort
• This lack of weapons, ammunition, equipment and clothing for troops contributed to numerous defeats.
• There were mass famines + poor harvests which were exacerbated due to conscription standing at 12 million as there left no one to work the fields + caused hugs gap in countryside. Thus people barely survived on subsistence farming and couldn’t produce enough crops which led to mass inflation.
• At home people left without resources and food. The war meant tax increased and inflation sent ordinary people into completely poverty + Peasant hoarding of grain began occurring and losses of land led to worsening economical climate.

Question 6

Explain what happened on International Womens day demonstrations in Feb 1917 and why it was significant.

Answer 6

On the 23rd February a large gathering of working class women convened taking place in form of protest calling for “bread and peace”

Whilst it began peacefully the next morning it turned violent as women were joined w hundreds of thousands of male workers who went on strike which flooded the streets - they openly called for an end to the monarchy and Tsarist regime.

Tsar responded by ordering army to bring end to riots the next day and fire on crowds yet many soldiers felt more empathy for protesters and next day 80,000 of them mutinied and joined protesters.

Nicholas had lost support of the army.