russia revolution 1917

Question 1

Cold Winter of 1916

Answer 1

Shortages of food, fuel and other essentials due to war, creating mass discontent in Russia and strikes caused high levels of tension in Petrograd.
News of bread rationing at the end of February 1917 sparked revolution.

Question 2

23rd February 1917

Answer 2

International Women’s Day. Started off as a good-humoured march but turned into mass protests by the afternoon.
Women (many being textile workers) took the lead in these protests and encouraged men from the factories in the Vyborg district and the Pulitov engineering works to join them.
Women took more initiative than men. Were told by Local Bolsheviks to go home as they were planning a demonstration on May Day, but did not listen.
Protests grew in numbers over the days & were demands for an end to the war and the Tsar.
Soldiers and Cossacks join demonstrators so nobody to effectively put down the uprising.

Question 3

26th February 1917

Answer 3

Tsar Nicholas orders troops to put down the disorders but they rebel and join protestors. Petrograd garrison goes against the Tsar.
Tension between the soldiers and police. Police tried attacking demonstrators and put snipers on rooftops to fire down, but soldiers fought back throwing them off roofs. Police stations attacked and prisons opened and prisoners released.

Question 4

28th February 1917

Answer 4

Situation getting out of hand: crime was growing and increase in violence.
People looked to Duma & Russian Parliament to take control of situation but socialists were already forming their own organisation to represents the interests of workers: The Soviet.

Question 5

27th February 1917

Answer 5

Duma form special committee made up of main representatives of the main political parties. Tsar does not give the Duma power (does not want to give in to a constitutional monarchy).
Became clear that the revolution had gone too far for the Tsar to be involved in government.

Question 6

2nd March 1917

Answer 6

Tsar Nicholas ordered his loyal troops to march on Petrograd and restore order.
Russian Army High Command ordered troops advancing to Petrograd to halt as they also believed the Tsar could no longer be involved with government.
Generals told Tsar they would not support him and so he abdicated leaving his brother Michael in charge.
Michael Romanov refused and the 400 year Romanov dynasty came to an end.
Duma set up Provisional Government and power is split between the PG and Soviets.