reasons for tsar abdication

Question 1

Unpopular figure

Answer 1

• bloody sunday massacre 1505 destroyed bond between Tsar and his people. 15,000 peasants hung or shot
• Failed to maintain October Manifesto 1905 where he promised constitutional monarchy through Duma, however, through the passing of fundamental laws in 1906 he had the right to dissolve the Duma at any point- thus breaking trust with public
• The pavlosk regiment mutinied and many others followed their lead. 27th Feb

Question 2

WW1

Answer 2

• demands of the war effort brought near famine to urban centers, food destined for cities rotted on railway platforms because trains were directed to war front.
• zemstvos who had been effectively organising the war effort at a local level were shut down as Tsar felt threatened by their domestic structure.
• January 1917, General Kharkiv informed Rodzianko the president of the Duma that the army had lost confidence in the Tsar and would support a Duma appointed government.

Question 3

Fatal decisions

Answer 3

• appointed himself commander-in chief therefore was responsible for Russian defeats in war
• Choice of Brusilov Offensive tactic, allowed Russian victory but lead to 500,000 to 1,000,000 death, wounded or captured

Question 4

Protest in the streets

Answer 4

• strike action had been increasing throughout the war
• the trigger for revolution was a strike by workers from the Putilove Factory, Petrograd’s largest industrial plant
• By February 27th 200,000 on strike demanding an end to bread rationing and to the war.