The February Revolution Flashcards
why did the February 1917 Revolution occur?
due to a mixture of long term discontent with the government and short-term triggers, such as food shortages and demoralisation of the army
what was the effect that food shortages had in Petrograd?
- increase social tensions: strikes in bakeries –> added to the food shortage crisis
- peasants held onto their grain : hoping to get higher prices for it
what were all the 8 triggers of the February revolution
- the International Women’s Day march
- Demonstrations in support of the Duma
- Unusaully mild winter weather
- munity in the army
- comtempt for tsarina
- Tsar away from Petrograd
- Food shortages in Petrograd
- Announcement of bread rationing
what were the 4 short term causes of the February revolution
- mood of protest + strikes in 1917
- bread shortages
- Tsar’s absence from Petrograd
- contempt for Tsarina
what were the 3 long term causes of the February revolution
- Tsar’s poor leadership skills in WW1
- Peasant + workers discontent
- Political opposition to the tsar’s rule
when was the Putilov Steelworks strike
18 February
what was the reason for the Putilov Steelworks strike and what was the consequences
- demand of higher wages
- Consequences: mood of strikers grew more challenging as owners declared lockout - refused to let workers into factory and stopped paying them
when was the march in memory of Bloody Sunday(1905) happen, and how many workers marched it
9 January 1917
150,000 workers
what happened at the Bloody Sunday march
tsars soldiers had opened fire on a peaceful demonstration and killed many
when did the demonstration in support of the Duma happen, and how many workers marched it
14 February 1917
~80,000
what was the reason for the demonstration in support of the Duma
people were in support of the Duma and demanding that it influence the tsar
why was the weather during late February important
weather became unusually warm –> encourages people to join street protests
when was the International Women’s Day protest
23 February
what did the women do on International Women’s Day
- women joined striking workers in anti-government demonstrations
- crowds grew larger than when gov. announced bread rationing
what problem did the police face from 23 - 25 February
250,000 people demonstrated in Petrograd - crowds became too big for police to control
how did the tsar absence from Petrograd lead to the loss of his throne?
- unaware of crisis building in Petrograd
- move to the army head quarters at Mogliev - 22nd Feb
- from Mogliev, tsar sent order to police and army in Petrograd to end unrest immediately - 25 Feb
what happened on the 26 February and how did it impact other regiments?
- 26 Feb: soldiers opened fire on protesters and killed 40
- caused soldiers in other regiments to begin questioning orders
- that evening, soldiers of Pavlosky Guards Regiment refused to obey commands from officers
- mutiny quickly suppressed
what happened on the 27 Febraury
- the same regiment that had short 40 protesters decided they no longer obey orders to use force against crowds
- other regiments joined - began to give weapons to crowds
- many solders involved were *young conscripts and more experienced soldiers who were tired of war and being sent to the front
what happened on 28 February
A military report to the tsar declared that Petrograd was out of control
what did the duma ask tsar Nicholas to do and why was this his last chance to save his throne
to create a new cabinet involving new Duma deputies and different parties represented in the duma
- last chance to save his throne by sharing some of his power
did tsar nicholas agree to the dumas request
NO
- refused an ordered Duma to dissolve
- most government ministers left Petrograd
which group of the Duma refused to follow Nicholas’s orders and what did they do instead?
the liberals
- continued on meeting
- formed a group called the Duma Committee and went on to set up the Provisional Government
what were the 2 options the military had in terms of suppressing the revolution:
- use soldiers from outside revolutionary Petrograd to crush revolution
- work with Duma to find a political solution
what did the military commanders decide to do regarding trying the stop revolt in Petrograd
Political Situation: work with the members of the Duma to find a political (non-violent) solution
why did the military commanders choose not to send more soldiers to crush the growing revolt?
- fear soldiers could no longer be trusted
- suppressing the revolution by forcewas too risky of the fear of army mutiny throughout the Russian Empire
what was carried out as option 2 was put into action?
- Army leaders + Duma leaders met tsar in Pskov
- suggested in order to save Russia: Tsar must voluntarily abdicate
- tsar agreed
why did Tsar Nicholas not hand over power to his son, Tsarevich Alexsei
- he was a haemophiliac - disease where blood doesn’t clot after bruise or cut
- concerned for his health
who did the tsar intend to hand his power to and did they accept?
Grand Duke Michael- brother
declined Romanov rule
- 300 yrs of Romanov rule was over
after the tsar abdication what was the impact it had on revolutionary parties?
- leaders of the revolutionary parties, where most living in exile of the February revolution - Lenin, Bolshevik leader, in Switzerland
- in Petrograd: revolutionaries scrambled to try take control of this unplanned revolution
