The February Revolution- course and effects Flashcards

1
Q

Causes (6)

A
  1. The influence of Rasputin on the Tsar and Tsarina
  2. The desertion of the elites.
  3. Strikes and demonstrations
  4. The impact of WW1
  5. Tsar’s poor leadership skills(e.g becoming commander in chief of the army in 1915.
  6. The nature of government- lack of reform.
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2
Q

How many desertions were there before February 1917

A

1.5 million

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3
Q

What had caused an increase in Conservative opposition

A

The decision of Rasputin and Tsar Nicholas II to make Nicholas decision to make himself the Commander in Chief in September 1915.

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4
Q

How many workers went on strike in Petrograd and in Moscow in Jan 1917

A

Moscow-30,000 workers

Petrograd-145,000 workers

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5
Q

By how much had the Russian population increased from the years 1855-1897

A

1855-60 million

Doubled by 1897

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6
Q

2 factors leading to high death rates pre-Feb Rev

A

Starvation and poor living standards

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7
Q

What 2 things swelled/rose in 1917

A

Population size swelled and uneployment levels rose.

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8
Q

What were set up around Russia to establish law and order, and what does this show

A

Set up ‘Military Zones’ showing the corruption/unrest in Russia before the revolution, as well as Tsarist attempt at reform.

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9
Q

How many factories had been closed down by 1915 and what did this show

A

600 factories had been shut down, showing a lack of funding and a step back in industrialisation.

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10
Q

By what percent did the cost of living increase

A

By 300%, leaving people in poverty, ripe for revolution.

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11
Q

What did the ‘Progressive Bloc’ demand and what did it oppose

A

Opposed the Duma and demanded a constitutional monarchy

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12
Q

When did the Tsar suspend the duma and what does it represent

A

Closed the duma in September 1915 showing he was above democracy and was moving away from any form of a democratic government.

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13
Q

What had been taken by the Germans (in terms of land)

A

Poland and other industrial areas, severley harming Russia’s industrial output, which was vital in a time of war.

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14
Q

what was Russia’s spending total for 1918

A

Rose to 14.5 million.

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15
Q

What were the demands of the duma in 1916

A

The Octoborists in the duma had frequently called for the removal of unwanted ministers and generals.

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16
Q

What made Feb Rev 1917 different to other threats/uprisings (2 factors)

A
  1. The range of opposition to the Tsarist gov

2. The speed in which events turned from a protest into a revolution.

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17
Q

What was the Okhrana

A

The Tsarist secret police.

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18
Q

Which class had hostil feelings towards not only the gov but vs all other social groups

A

The peasants

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19
Q

Who did the peasnats feel hostile towards

A

Tsarist gov, as well as all other social classes.

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20
Q

What were closed/banned bt Tsarist gov

A

Trade Unions

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21
Q

What did the duma president war the Tsar on the 14th of Feb 1917 and what did he add

A

That ‘very serious outbreaks of unrest’ were imminent. Adding that ‘there is not one honest man left in your entourage;all the decent people have either been dismissed or left.’

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22
Q

What period did the Feb Rev occupy (according to the system of dating in imperial Russia)

A

18th Feb-4th March 1917.

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23
Q

What began on the 18th Feb 1917

A

A full scale strike was started by the employees at the Putilov Steel works, the largest and most politically active factory in Petrograd.

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24
Q

What happend during the 5 days after the start of the Feb Rev

A

The Putilov strikers were joined on the streets by growing numbers of workers, who had been angered by ruomours of a further cut in bread supplies.(Not known that it was just a rumour and there was still enough bread to meet the capital’s basic needs.

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25
Q

What day is the 23rd Feb 1917

A

International Women’s day

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26
Q

How did International Women’s day effect the Feb Rev

A

Brought thousands of women to the streets to join the protestors in demanding food and an end to the war.

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27
Q

What was the situation in petrograd by 25th Feb 1917

A

By 25th Feb Petrograd was paralysed (factories and businesses not functioning) by a city-wide strike. The authorities attempts to disperse the workers were hampered by the growing sympathy amongst the police for the demonstrators. Great sense of confusion and little clear direction at the top. In Petrograd pilitical protest were indistinguishable from the general outcry vs food shortages and the miseries brought from war.

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28
Q

Where was the Tsars military headquarters and how far away was it from Petrograd

A

At Mogilev, 400 miles from Petrograd. Tsarina still in capital and it relied on letters from her.

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29
Q

What had Khabalov begged the goverment to do. Why was this not able to be done.

A

To declare martial law in Petrograd, which would have given him the power to use unlimited force against the demonstators. Breakdown of ordinary life in the Capital meant that martial law could not even be printed, let alone enforced.

30
Q

How many Petrograd garrison soldiers had desserted by 26 Feb 1917

A

all but a few thousand of the original 150,000. Desertions also seriously depleted a batallion of troops sent from the front under General Ivanov to reinforce the garrison.

31
Q

What event took place on the 27th Feb 1917

A

First meeting of the ‘Petrograd Soviet of Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Workers’ Deputies. Gathered in Tauride Palace, the same building that housed the Provisional Government

32
Q

Which building housed the Provisional Government

A

Tauride Palace

33
Q

What was the moving force behind the setting up of the Soviet

A

The Mensheviks, who had grown in strength in Petrograd during the war, under their local leader Alexander Shlyapnikov

34
Q

Which 2 bodies wnated power in Feb Rev and what did they have in common

A

The PG, representing the reformist elements of the old duma and the Soviet, speaking for the stroking workers and rebellious troops- became the de-facto gov of Russia. Common factor- both self-appointed bodies. Later became the ‘Dual Authority’ (named this by Lenin) an uneasy alliance that was to last until Oct 1917.

35
Q

Which 2 organisations made up the ‘Dual Authority’

A

The PG and the Soviet.

36
Q

On which day did the Soviet publish the first edition of its newspaper, what was its name and what did it declare as its determination

A

28 Feb 1917
Izvestiya (the news)
Declared its determination ‘to wipe out the old system completely’ and to summon a Constituent Assembley, elected by Universal Sufferage (electoral system where all adults have right to vote)

37
Q

When did Tsar Nicholas II abdicate

A

Decree of Abdiaction signed on 2 March 1917

38
Q

Who advised the Tsar that only his personal abdication could save the Russian monarchy

A

Rodzianko

39
Q

On what date did Nicholas II decide return to Petrograd and what effect did he think this would have. Why did this not happen in the end

A

28 Feb 1917. Believed his presence would have a calming effect on the capital. However royal train was intercepted on its journey by mutinous troops who forced it to divert to Pskov, a depot 100 miles from Petrograd. There a general from the stavka w/ reps from old duma informed Nicholas II of seriousness of situation in Petrograd and that it made his return both futile and dangerous. They too advised abdication, which Nicholas tamely accepted.

40
Q

What concern did Nicholas II have upon his succession

A

Wheteher he should renounce the throne on behalf of his son, Alexei.

41
Q

What concern did Nicholas II have upon his succession

A

Wheather he should renounce the throne on behalf of his son, Alexei. He eventually decided to do so. Decree of abdication signed on 2 March 1917 and he nominated his brother, the Grand Duke Micheal, as the new Tsar.

42
Q

When was the decree of succession and who was decided as the next Tsar. What was the political outcome

A

Decree of abdication signed on 2 March 1917 and he nominated his brother, the Grand Duke Micheal, as the new Tsar. He refused to take the title on pretext that it hadn’t been offered to him by the Constituent Assembley. Thus PG (formally named the Provisional Committee) found itself responsible for governing Russia.

43
Q

When did PG officially become Russia’s new government

A

On 3 March 1917, new gov officially informed the rest of the world that the revolution had taken place.

44
Q

When was Tsar’s abdication formally and publicly announced

A

4 March 1917

45
Q

Time period of Feb Rev

A

18 Feb 1917-3 March 1917

46
Q

Role of Bols in Feb Rev

A

Absent in 1905 Rev and also missing from 1917 Feb Rev. Practicaly all of their leaders were in exhile. Lenin in Switzerland and hadn’t been to Russia in over a decade. Absence of leaders and problems caused by war made it impossible. Situstion in Petrograd 1917 was fragmentary and unreliable. Feb Rev took Bols by suprise.

47
Q

Role of Petrograd in Feb Rev

A

Police and army couldn’t control crowds and maintain peace/ law and order under Tsar’s orders.

48
Q

How many people were thought to be killed or wounded in Petrograd during Feb Rev

A

Estimated 1500-2000 people were killed or wounded.

49
Q

Role of the War in Feb Rev

A

Lengths of the war destroyed Tsardom. Made time ripe for revolution. Millions of deaths and casualties, soaring inflation, a dislocated communications system and hunger and deprivation all presided over by a series of increasingly bewildered and ineffectual ministires under an incompetant Tsar. Consequence was a loss of morale and a sence of hopelessness that fatally undermined Tsar’s God-given authority. By 1917 the tsarist system had forfeited its claims to the loyalty of the people.

50
Q

Key events during Feb 1917 table

14Feb-24Feb

A

Tuesday 14 Feb: 1. Strikes in Petrograd
2.News that bread would be rationed from 1 March= brought long queues and riots. The police struggled to keep order.

Wednesday 22 Feb:1. 20,000 workers were locked out of the Putilov Steel Works after pay talks collapsed.
2.Workers in other factories went on strike in support.

Thursday 23 Feb: 1. Striking workers joined traditional march for International Women’s Day.

  1. Students and women from the bread queues also joined the marching. Protesters demanded food and the end of WW1.
  2. Cities fell into chaos and order wasn’t restored until the evening.
  3. At this point polotical protests were indistinguishable from the general outcry vs food shortages and the miseries brought by war.

Friday 24 Feb: 1. 200,000 workers were on strike and there were spontaneous demonstrations. There was no obvious organisation of the crowds from any of the radical political parties (showed widespread hatred/discontent of tsardom).

51
Q

Key events during Feb 1917 table

25Feb-28Feb

A

Sat 25 Feb: 1. 250,000 people (over half of the capital’s workforce were on strike). Petrograd was paralysed by a city-wide strike.

  1. Shalfeev, in charge of the mounted police, was dragged from his horde and shot (by demonstrators)
  2. Civilians were shot by soldiers on the Nevskii Prospekt, but some Cossacks refused to attack the strikers. Police felt bad for demonstators and many were off peasants/working class origin so didn’t want to fire upon their own. Great deal of confusion and little clear direction at the top.

Sat 26 Feb: 1. Rodzianko, the Duma President, sent the Tsar a telegram warning him of the seriousness of the situaton in Petrograd.

  1. Nicholas ignored the warning and ordered the Duma to dissolve the next day.
  2. Army called upon to stop the protests.

Mon 27 Feb: 1. Nicholas ordered Khabalov, Commander of Petrograd Military District, to restore order by military force. Around 40 demonstartors were killed.

  1. A mutiny began in the Volynskii regiment. Soldiers joined the protestors, arming them with rifles.
  2. The Duma held a meeting, despite the Tsar’s orders, and set up a Provisional Committee to take over the gov. They were supported by the army’s High Command (stavka)
  3. The same evening, revolutionaries set up the Petrograd Soviet, which also intended to take over the gov. It began to organise food supplies for the city.

Tuesday 28 Feb: 1. Nicholas started to make his way back to petrograd.
2.He sent a telegram offering to share power with Duma (last ditched attempt to retain his power-failed).

52
Q

Where was the Tsar’s military headquarters and how far was it from Petrograd. What was the effect of this distance

A

Military headquarters at Mogilev, 400 miles from Petrograd therefore it relied for news laregly on letters recieved from the tsarina, who remained in the capital, under the influence of Rasputin.

53
Q

Why was General Khabalov unable to restore order in Petrograd after being ordered to do so by Nicholas II

A

The situation was uncontrollable due to the various contingents of police and malitia who either fought one another or joined the demonstrators, and his known Garrison troops disobeying orders. He had earlier begged the the gov to declare martial law in Petrograd, which would have given him power to use unlimited force vs demonstraters. However, breakdown of ordinary life in capital=martial law proclomation could not be printed, let alone enforced.

54
Q

How many desertions had there been in Petrograd Garrsion by 26 Feb 1917

A

By 26 Feb all but a few thousand of the original 150,000 Petrograd Garrison soldiers had desserted, many in favour of joining protests.Desertions also seriously depleted a batallion of troops sent from the front by General Ivanov to reinforce the garrison.

55
Q

Describe the events of the dissolution of the Duma

A

26 Feb- Nicholas II ignores Duma’s call for him to step down as Tsar in an attempt to retain imperial power. He refused and ordered the Duma to dissolve.
It did so formally however a group of 12 men disobeyed orders and remained in session as a ‘Provisional Committee’. This marked the first open constitutional defiance of the Tsar.
Led to boldest move so far, Alexander Kerensky’s (a lawyer and a leading SR member in the Duma) calling for Tsar to step down/resign or be deposed from position as head of state.

56
Q

Who made up the Provisional Committee (later the PG)

A

12 old Duma members who refused to dissolve the Duma.

57
Q

When was the Petrograd Soviet formed and who was it made up of, where did it first meet and why was this so significant

A

Formed on 27th Feb and was as significant as formation of the PG. This was ther first meeting of the Petrograd Soviet of Soldiers’, Sailors’, Workers’ Deputies’, which gathered in Tauride Palace, the same building that housed the PG. Moving force behind setting up of Soviet was the Mensheviks, led by local leader Alexander Shlyapinkov, had grown in strength in Petrograd during the war.

58
Q

What did the Pg and Pet Sov represent and what were they both. What was this known as

A

Both were self- appointed bodies representing the reformist elementsof the old duma (PG) and the Soviet represented the striking workers and rebellious troops. They both became the de facto gov in Russia.
This was the beggining of what Lenin later named the ‘dual authority.’ An uneasy alliance, lasting until October 1917

59
Q

What was name of the Soviet newspaper and what did it declare in its 1st edition.

A

28 Feb= published first edition of its newspaper Izvestiya (the news) in which it declared its determination to ‘wipe out the old system completely’ and to summon a constituent assembley, elected by universal sufferage.

60
Q

When did feb Rev occur

A

18th Feb-4th March

61
Q

Describe the role of Bols in Feb Rev

A

Bols were absent from 1905 and Feb 1917 revolution. In Feb 1917 the majority of their leaders were in exile. Lenin had been out of russia for over a decade and was in Switzerland. Distance between leaders and WW1 making communicating very difficult meant they had no real idea of the situation in Petrograd. Stalin was in Siberia.

62
Q

Describe the role of Petrograd in Feb Rev

A

All took place in Petrograd. No struggle anywhere except Petrograd. Modern estimates= between 1500-2000 people were killed or wounded in disterbances. Small figure in comparison to those fighting war at front. Tsars supporters who betrayed him made him lose power. He became hopeless after some duma members refused to disband and police/malitia refused to fire on their own.
Rev not caused solely by demonstrations and strikes in Petrograd but was brought about by defection of tsar’s previous supporters at this crucial moments and Tsar’s own failure to resist that brought about failure of the Romanov dynasty.

63
Q

Describe the role of WW1 in Feb Rev

A

Some time before his abdication, Nicholas II had given up will to survive. Length of the war destroyed tsardom. A short war, even if unsuccessful, may have been bearable, as Russia’s defeat to Japan 12 years earlier had shown. But cumulitive effects of prolonged struggle of WW1 was overwhelming. Millions of deaths and casualties, soaring inflation, a dislocated communications system, hunger and deprevation, all presided over by a series of increaingly bewildered and ineffectual ministers under an incompetent tsar. The consequence was a loss of morale and a sense of hopelessness that fatally undermined the once-potent myth of the tsar’s God-given authority. By 1917 the tsarist system had forfeited its claim to the loyalty of the Russian people. Economy was ruined by war as Russia wasn’t advanced enough.

64
Q

Who created ‘Order No.1’ and what did it state

A

On 1 March 1917 the Pet Sov created a charter of soldier’s rights called ‘Order No.1’ The order stated that:

  1. All military units were to elect a deputy to the Petrograd Soviet and agree to be under the control of the Pet Sov.
  2. The Military Commission of the Duma was only to be obeyed if its orders agreed with the Pet Sov’s orders.

It also aimed to improve the rights and respecst given to soldiers, e.g by giving them full citizen’s rights when off duty.

65
Q

How many members did the Petrograd Soviet have by 10 March

A

3,000 members

66
Q

Who set up soviets (coucills) around Russia

A

Local socialist groups.

67
Q

What made Tsar’s son unsuitable to be next tsar

A

His haemophilia

68
Q

Describe the Pet Sov (3 points)

A
  1. Its executive committee was made up of socialist intellectuals (mainly Mensheviks and SRs)
  2. Members of the executive committee were elected, unlike the PG.
  3. Generally considered by workers, soldiers and peasnats to be a more democratic, less elitist organisation than the PG
69
Q

Describe the PG (4 points)

A
  1. Headed by Prince Lvov, an aristocrat and zemstvo leader.
  2. Made up of former supporters of a constitutional monarchy.
  3. Planned as a temporary (‘provisional’) gov until a Constituent Assembley could be elected.
  4. Supported by old tsarist civil service, army officers and the police.
70
Q

Who was the only member of both the PG and the Pet Sov

A

Alexandr Kerensky, a member of the Social

71
Q

Describe the areas of conflict between the ‘Dual Authority’ (5 areas)

A

Although Soviet didn’t block PG reforms, there were many areas of conflict.

  1. Soviet Order No1 said soldiers and workers should only obey Pg where it agreed with Soviet.
  2. PG wanted to restore and increase army discipline to stop more desertians and to restore order in the countryside, whereas the Soviet encouraged soldiers, sailors, workers and peasants to defy authority and assert their rights.
  3. PG wnated an all-out effort to win the war, whilst Soviet wanted to end russia’s involvmement in war asap as long as this didn’t mean giving up territory to the Germans.
  4. Although the PG was committed to holding elections for a Constituent Assembly, any elections in 1917 would be clearly won by the SRs, which the liberals of the PG were desperate to avoid.
  5. The Soviet was essentially reactive- it saw its role as being to protect workers’, soldiers’ and peasants’ rights. This was an obstacle to then PG being able to get things done, and the Soviet did not offer any alternative leadership of its own.