R1.2 The February Revolution

Question 1

What three things led to the Tsars abdication and how?

Answer 1

-Tsar’s Mistakes: Failure to deal with war, refusal to change
-Frustration against Tsar: Ignoring advice from Tsarists, Rasputin, Absence of Tsar
-Political Turmoil: Failure of Tsar’s monarchy, Lack of authority in Duma, Petrograd soviet support

Question 2

What three things caused the february revolution and how?

Answer 2

-Popular discontent: Striking workers, bread/ration queues, Volynskii soldiers
-Frustration against the Tsar: War effort failures, failure to address economic problems, absence from Russia
-Circumstance: International Women’s Day, Students, Bread Queues, Striking workers

Question 3

Who were they key figures and groups in the February Revolution?

Answer 3

-The Tsar: Was absent from Russia, ignored Mikhail warnings, offered to share power with duma too late
-Soldiers and Workers: Striking and mutinies, supported petrograd soviet, saw PG as extension of Tsar Cabinet
-Petrograd Soviet: Supported by workers, soldiers, peasants, Or der No.1, Adovcating for popular measures
-Provisional Government: Established as temporary, associated with those favouring constitutional monarchy, wanted to continue war

Question 4

What happened on Tuesday 14th Feb and Wednesday 22nd Feb?

Answer 4

14th: Strikes in Petrograd, News that bread would be rationed from 1 March brought long queues and riots. The police struggled to keep order
22nd: 20k workers locked out of Putilov steel works after pay talks collapse, workers in other factories strike

Question 5

What happened on Thursday 23rd Feb and 24th Feb?

Answer 5

23rd: Striking workers join march, students and women from bread queues join march, city chaotic
24th: 200k workers on strike and sponteaneous demonstrations

Question 6

What happened on 25th February and 26th February 1917?

Answer 6

25th: 250k people on strike, Shalfeev dragged from horse and shot, Civilians shot by soldiers on Nevskii Prospekt (some refuse)
26th: Rodzianko, Duma President, sent Tsar warning telegram to which he ignored

Question 7

What happened on 27th and 28th February 1917?

Answer 7

27th: Tsar orders Khabalov to restore order with military force (40 demonstrators killed), mutiny in Volynskii regiment, Duma create provisional committee against Tsars order, revolutionaries set up Petrograd Soviet
28th: Nick makes his way back to Petrograd, sent telegram offering to share power with Duma