The Opposition To The Autocracy And The Political Collapse Of February/march 1917 Flashcards
What was the population of Petrograd like by the winter of 1917?
-tense with pent up frustrations of unemployed, starving + desperate
-demonstration by 150k workers on anniversary of Bloody Sunday Jan 1917 a hint at things to come
What strikes occurred on the 14th of Feb 1917?
-100k workers from 58 factories strike in Petrograd
-news bread rationed from 1 March brought long queues + violent exchanges the police struggled to contain
How were things worsening by international women’s day on 23rd of Feb?
-90k workers strike + 50 factories close
-workers join traditional march of women from Petrograd suburbs to city centre with militant students + women from bread queues
What did this result in?
-city in chaos with c.240k on streets
-order restored by desire at police force with no deaths
How had strikes escalated by 25th Feb 1917?
-250k - over half capitals workforce - striking + Petrograd at standstill
-all major factories + workshops closed
-violence escalated as police chief Shafleev tries control masses
What is the significance of what occurred on the 26th Feb 1917?
-Duma pres Rodzianko sends tsar telegram explains everything in anarchy, gov is paralysed + discontent is rising
How did Nicholas respond to what Rodzianko stated?
-but Nicholas dismisses this as evidence by his diary stating ‘fat bellied Rodzianko has written some nonsense
What did the tsar order to happen on the27th Feb?
-ordered commander of Petrograd military district restore order by military force
-led to around 40 demonstrations in city centre being killed
What happened as a result of this order?
-mutiny begins in Volynskii regiment where sergeant shoots commanding officer
-66k soldiers mutiny + join protestors arming them with 40k rifles - police HQ attacked c prisons opened
How did Nicholas respond to this marking a turning point?
-28th Feb leaves military HQ for Petrograd
-offers to share power with Duma but Rodzianko replies ‘the time for this has gone’
What was agreed under pressure?
-under pressure from soldiers + mutineers at Kronstadt naval base
-Petrograd Soviet agreed each regiment elect committees + send representatives to Soviet
What was the Petrograd Soviet?
-Soviets were councils not supportive of particular party
-following Feb 1917 rev elected Soviets sprang in many cities + towns
- the Petrograd Soviet most important with 3000 members 10 March
What was produced following this agreement?
-the ‘Order No.1’ - charter of soldiers rights
What did this charter promise?
-all units elect deputy to Soviet + agree to political control of Petrograd Soviet
-all weapons controlled by elected soldiers + not officers
-soldiers enjoy full citizens rights when off duty e.g. no requirement salute
What happened to Nicholas?
-never returned to Petrograd as train diverted by rebellious railway workers
-under pressure to resign from chief of general staff Alekseev
Why did Alekseev want tsar to reign?
-reassured by agreement that Petrograd Soviet recognise a provisional gov former by members of Duma
-suggests tsar resign in favour of his son with his brother Mikhail taking regent
What did Nicholas do instead?
-named Mikhail tsar without being consulted
-added Mikhail should lead country in complete union with representatives of people in legislative bodies but Mikhail refused offer
What happened to the tsar + his family?
-placed under house arrest along with most members of tsars council of ministers
-304 years if Romanov dynasty came to end
Where did rev disturbances spread to?
-beyond Petrograd to Kronstadt naval base, Moscow + other Ind cities + rural areas
What happened in cities beyond Petrograd?
-workers seized control of factories, set up workers committees + deposed former bosses
-army disintegrated into semi-independent bodies + soldiers Soviets without clear leadership
What happened in the countryside beyond Petrograd?
-peasants attacked landlord properties + felled trees illegally
-national minorities declared independence in Finland, Ukraine + Caucasus
What have the events of Feb 1917 been interpreted as?
-class struggle between bourgeoisie-proletarian forces + traditional aristocratic forces of urban workers
Who inspired the 1917 rev?
-B’viks inspired the rev + setting up of Petrograd Soviet but in no position to star a rev in 1917
-appears have been largely spontaneous
