The February/March revolution of 1917 Flashcards
causes and course of revolution; issues of leadership and the Tsar's abdication; the establishment of Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet; the workings of the Dual authority
14th February
100,000 workers on strike from 58 factories in Petrograd
announcement of bread rationing from March 1st brought long queues and violent exchanges - police struggled to keep order
22nd February
20,000 workers locked out of Putilov steel factory after pay talks collapsed
23rd February
90,000 on strike 50 factories closed
march for international womens day
city fell into chaos with people from bread queues and militant students joining marches
240,000 on the streets
24th February
200,000 on strike overturning Tsarist statues waving red flags and calling for an end to Tsardom
25th february
250,000 on strike (over half the capitals workforce)
violence escalated
cossacks refused to attack when ordered to do so
26th February
telegram sent to the Tsar warning him of the situation in Petrograd
Nicholas ignored the warning and ordered the Duma to dissolve the next day
27th February
Tsar ordered Major-General Khabalov to restore by military force
mutiny began in volynskii regiment 66,000 soldiers followed suit armed with 40,000 rifles
12-man provisional committee to take over the government set up
army’s high command ordered soldiers to stop and gave their support to the Duma committee
soviet set up intending to take over the government - began to organise food supplies
2nd March
Nicholas agreed to resign
what was order no. 1
March 1st
all army units would elect a deputy to the soviet and agree to the political control of the Petrograd Soviet
military commission of the Duma only to be obeyed if it agreed with the soviets orders
what was the provisional government
given authority by grand duke mikhail
temporary gov before elections for a constituent assembly and new constitution
made up of influential elites
what was the petrograd soviet
seen as the better organisation than the PG
made of elected members and a main executive committee
lacked confidence to assume direct control
how did the army remove Nicholas’s coercive power
turned protests into a revolution
by mutinying Nicholas couldn’t use the army to put down the revolution like he had in 1905
how much weaponry did the army provide to the revolution
40,000 rifles
30,000 revolvers
100,000 guns
how did the army force action
26th occupied tactical locations like telephone exchange and railway stations
27th feb crowd of mainly soldiers outside Tauride palace demanding action
how did the army stop Nicholas from returning
March 1st revolutionaries controlled the railways
prevented Nicholas and some soldiers from returning to Petrograd
how did workers begin the revolution
14th 100,000 on strike creating something for Nicholas to respond to
how did workers increase the power of the revolution
24th feb 150,000 armed workers on the Nevsky Prospect
25th 200,000 armed workers on the streets turned protests into revolution
how did the war cause the revolution
loss of morale
alienation of the army
caused food shortage
how did socio-economic conditions cause the revolution
food shortages and poor living conditions caused the initial protests which turned into revolution
when was the provisional government declared
2nd March
when was the Petrograd soviet formed
27th February
Who was the Prime Minister of the PG
Prince Lvov
How many members did the PS have
by March 10th 3000
how did the PS appear more democratic
PG was composed of self-appointed wealthy individuals who had associations with Tsarisms
PS had elected delegates from factories and executive committee elected by various lesser soviets
why did the agreement of dual authority come about
the PS lacked the confidence to assume direct control
Kerensky (member of PS and PG) managed the negotiations to work together
how was the authority of the PG restricted
Order no.1 meant soldiers only recognised the authority of the soviet
Pg orders only to be obeyed if Soviet agreed
