Modern History - Feb Revolution

Question 1

What were the immediate causes of the Feb Rev? (9)

Answer 1

• Tsar away from Petrograd
• Contempt for Tsarina
• Army’s mutiny against Tsar’s rule
• Unusually mild winter weather
• Demonstrations in support of Duma
• International Women’s Day march
• Industrial unrest; strikes
• Announcement of bread rationing
• Food shortages in Petrograd

Question 2

1. When was International Women’s Day?

Answer 2

23rd Feb 1917

Question 3

What were the International Women’s Day marches protesting about?

Answer 3

Bread shortages and rationing starting on 1st March

(Came after winter of food shortages - made people desparate)

Question 4

What did the International Women’s Day protest join?

Answer 4

Joined protests led by striking workers

Question 5

2. When was the mass protest about bread shortages and intro of rationing?

*between…

Answer 5

Between 23rd and 25th of Feb

Question 6

How many marched through Petrograd streets between 23rd & 25th of Feb in protest of bread rationing?

Answer 6

250,000

(quarter of a million)

Question 6

3. When was the ‘Second Bloody Sunday?’

Answer 6

25th Feb

Question 7

What happened on 2nd Bloody Sunday on 25th Feb?

Answer 7

Was more than police could control so Tsar ordered officers to stop unrest
50 people killed next day

(Crucial turning point for soldiers - finally questioned loyalty to Tsar)

Question 7

4. When was the Pavlovsky army mutiny?

Answer 7

26th Feb

Question 8

What happened at army mutiny?

Answer 8

Soldiers were shocked - soldiers of Pavlovsky Regiment refused to obey orders to fire on demonstrators (mutinied)

Question 9

5. When was the soldier’s rebellion?

Answer 9

27th - 28th Feb

Question 10

What happened at the soldier’s rebellion?

Answer 10

• Soldiers joined with workers to capture Petrograd’s main weapon store - took over:
  
  • 400,000 rifles
  • 30,000 revolvers
• Also broke into prisons and released political prisoners
• Police stations attacked
• Battles in streets against police

(Now with involvement of soldiers revolution had properly begun)

Question 11

How many were part of the protests?

Answer 11

• 150,000 soldiers
• 250,000 demonstrators

(Soldiers in other parts of Russia could be called to restore order but so tired of WW1 - probably join protests)
Police force in Petrograd wasn’t strong enough to fight back - no control of city

Question 12

6. When did the Tsar try and fix it?

Answer 12

27th Feb

Question 13

What did the Tsar do to try and fix it?

Answer 13

When he received reports of mutiny in Petrograd - ordered troops to enforce order there

But by 1st March - reached city of Pskov - some soldiers started to mutiny

Question 14

7. When did the Tsar abdicate?

Answer 14

2nd March

Question 15

What happened before and after Tsar’s abdication?

Answer 15

Senior army officers and Duma urged abdication to save Russia

Tsar agreed to abdicate in favour of his brother (Grand Duke Michael)

When he turned it down the duma formed a Provisional Government

Question 16

After 800 years of Romanov Rule, when did Russia become a republic?

Answer 16

Spring 1917