February Revolution and Tsar Nicholas II Flashcards
What was the 1905 revolution?
Peaceful demonstrators marched to Winter Palace in St. Petersburg about poor working and living conditions.
Where did the demonstrators go during the 1905 revolution?
Winter Palace, St. Petersburg to talk to the Tsar about the poor working and living conditions.
What caused the food shortages that spurred the 1905 revolution?
Russo-Japanese War
Why was the 1905 Revolution given the moniker ‘Bloody Sunday’?
Tsarist troops shot and killed peaceful demonstrators.
What caused cities’ food shortages in the Autumn of 1915?
No peasants selling grain.
When did food shortages in the cities, caused by no grain, take place?
Autumn, 1915
What caused disruption of food supply transport?
Prioritisation of railway lines for the war effort.
How much fuel were the major cities (Moscow and St. Petersburg) only getting in 1916.
1/3 of their usual supply.
What did the government do in response to inflation to pay for the war?
Print more money.
What did WW1 inflation economically cause?
Decreased wages and increased prices (four-fold between 1914-6)
In what year did strikes in cities happen frequently?
1916
What did the Tsar do in August 1915
Dismissed the army commander-in-chief, abandoned the capital, and took full leadership of the army.
What was made possible by the Tsar’s assumption to military leadership?
Sole blame and responsibility given to him for any and all military failures as well as for his absence.
Shortages of what supplies occurred during the war, for Russian forces.
Weapons and uniforms
Why were independant organisations fueling the military with supplies?
The Tsar refused to allow the Duma government any official power in ruling the country.
Give an example of organisations that helped provide supplies to the front.
Zemstvo
What was running as an unofficial government in Russia?
The Duma
Who headed the Duma?
Prince Lyov
What made the Tsar’s government look weak and irrelevant?
The presence of a much more competent, active government - the Duma.
When did the Tsar recall the Duma?
July 1915
What was the progressive bloc?
Deputies called upon the Tsar to appoint a new parliamentary government that had the public and Duma’s support.
Why did the Tsar dissolve the duma in September 1915?
As a response to the Progressive Bloc.
When did the Tsar dissolve the Duma?
September 1915
When did the Duma come together after their dissolution by the Tsar in 1915?
November 1916
Who did the Tsar leave monarchic duties to when he left for the front?
His wife, Tsarina Alexandria.
Who assisted the Tsarina in the leadership of her nation?
Gregori Rasputin.
Who was Rasputin?
A russian monk and peasant, notorious for his sexual proclivities and supposed supernatural healing abilities.
How many prime ministers, ministers of internal affairs, war ministers and foreign ministers were there in less than three years under Tsarina’s rule?
Four PMs, Six MIAs, 3 WMs and 3 FMs
Why did the Russian people distrust Tsarina?
She had German origins.
How did the nobility, aristocracy and upper class see Rasputin’s presence?
Dishonourable to the monarchy.
What rumour spread of Tsarina and Rasputin?
They were having an affair.
What type of ruler was Tsar Nicholas II?
A stubborn autocrat who was ‘out of touch with reality’.
How did the Tsarina-Rasputin issue, affect the monarchy?
It lost them the support of the upper class and aristocracy - Rasputin besmirched their legacy.
What made the upper class want social reform?
The Tsarina-Rasputin disaster.
How did Tsarina appoint ministers?
By giving the jobs away to friends and allies to the royals - this worsened thoughts of elitism.
When was Rasputin murdered?
December 1916
Who killed Rasputin?
Five noblemen, including Prince Yusupov.
Why was Rasputin murdered?
Out of widespread fear that he was negatively influencing the monarchy - especially from rumours of an affair with Tsarina.
When was International Women’s Day?
23 February 1917
Where did the February Revolution initiate?
St Petersburg
What happened on 23 February 1917?
Women protestors took to the streets demanding bread with the assistance of factory workers.
How many protestors had gathered by 24 February 1917?
Between 100,000 and 200,000
What was Tsar’s response to the protestors of the February Revolution?
Command troops to fire on civilians.
What were the Russian soldiers mostly made up of?
Urban and rural peasants and workers.
What were the russian soldiers nicknamed?
‘Peasants in uniform’
What was the reaction of the Petrograd Garrison to the Tsar’s order for troops to fire on civilians?
Several regiments voted to disobey.
How did Tsar Nicholas II lose military power in St Petersburg, during the February Revolution?
Uprisings led to the police, courts and prisons being attacked.
How did some soldiers act during the firing on protestors (Feb Revol).
They joined them.
When did Tsar Nicholas II abdicate?
2 March 1917
Who did Nicholas II abdicate to?
His brother, Grand Duke Michael
