The February
Revolution
What were the causes, key events
and results of the first revolution
of 1917?
1
Who were key players?
• Interesting fact is that in February 1917 none of the key
revolutionary leaders were present in St Petersburg!
• Lenin ,Trotsky etc. in exile
• The Tsar 650 km away at the front
• Who then led and precipitated the revolution?
2
Long term causes of
the February
Revolution Pre 1917
World war 1 –
Increased discontent
amongst public and army
because of heavy losses and
various shortages.
Rasputin and the
Tsarina – the power
the Tsar gave them was
criticised – Rasputin’s bad
reputation hurt the position
of the Tsar.
The Tsar – poor decisions
and lack of leadership ability.
Criticised for taking command
of Armed Forces during WW1.
Long term causes
Growing opposition groups –
Traditional opposition (SDs, SRs etc)
-Now also opposition from some
People who had been pro-Tsar because
of mistakes made in WW1
Problems with the Duma –
Issues of 1905 Revolution
Not fully resolved – Duma
Unhappy about being
ignored – Formation of3
Progressive Bloc.
The impact of WWI
• Military Defeats
– Russian army was big but poorly
equipped
– Lost two major battles in 1914
– Caused loss of civilian and military
morale
– Tsar now held responsible for the defeats
as he had taken charge of the army
4
Criticism of the Tsar
Criticism if the
Tsarina
Poor military commander
Poor political leader
Inexperienced and
incompetent ruler
Left the Tsarina in charge
of the government
Refused to accept advice
from the Duma
Impact of WWI
Under the influence of
Rasputin
Unpopular because
she was German
Role of Rasputin
Claimed to be a
healer. Disliked by
many yet held
influence over both
the Tsar and Tsarina.
Played major role in
instability of govt with
hiring and firing of
ministers.
A firm believer in
autocracy-had little
time for the Duma or
the common people.
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Impact WWI
•
•
•
•
•
•
Economic problems
Impact WWI
Over 15 million men joined the army-this created a severe skills shortage
not enough workers in factories and farms
caused severe shortages of food and materials-Moscow only received 50%
of daily flour supply. St Petersburg just 20%!
of 73 factories not operating by Dec 1916, a staggering 50 had closed due
to a lack of fuel to power machinery
Cities suffering from acute shortage of fuel-wood yards empty
Railway system very poor
– could not supply the troops
– could not supply the towns
– food prices rose-People blamed “speculators and capitalists-who do
they mean by this?
– Cold winter of 1916-17 one of coldest on record-many parts of railway
line inoperable-trains could not move and get supplies to cities or front.
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Impact WWI
Social discontent
Impact WWI
• Food shortages and price rises caused widespread discontent.
• The war had seen the population move from the countryside to the
cities
• The cities soon became overcrowded and people lived in terrible
conditions
• Absolute war weariness had set in particularly amongst soldiers
serving or being sent to the front• ”Soldiers were increasingly refusing to take up attacking positions,
fraternizing with the enemy, and rejecting the authority of their
officers, whom as peasants eager to return to their farms, they now
saw more clearly than ever as their old class enemies, the
landowners, in uniform
Figes,Peoples Tragedy,p303
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Political discontent
• From mid 1915 “pro German, dark forces” held responsible for
failings of regime.
• Widely believed that Tsars closest advisers secretly negotiating with
Germany.
• The Progressive bloc formed base of a growing campaign to
discredit autocracy.
• This was comprised of liberal elements of Duma,zemstva reps and
industrialists.
• Main aim of group was to move towards a constitutional monarchy,
with power in hands of educated, property owning class
• Despite enjoying widespread support in duma, the progressives
failed to rehabilitate or change autocracy due to mistrust of the
masses-afraid of losing control of their agenda and it being hijacked
by popular intervention.
8
The Revolution – ‘a
collapse from
within’?
• Rodzyanko (Duma president) predicted
that there would be ‘very serious’ unrest if
the Tsar failed to act to recognise the
concerns of his people – the Tsar did not
act – so his people did!!
• Outbreaks of industrial unrest had been
occurring since the beginning of 1917 on a
regular basis.
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Warnings and advice not
heeded (1)
• The Okhrana
• Chairman of Duma
•
•
The Okhrana intelligence division sent
the Tsar a very clear warning as to the
state of feeling amongst the general
populace in January 1917. The warnings
included evidence that:
•
“exceptional feelings of anger and
frustration across wide sections of the
population….”
•
“Frequent complaints against the
administration and the ruinous path
being taken…”
•
“Complaints raised: venality (corruptible)
nature of officials at the expense of the
people…”
•
“The burdens of the war and unbearable
conditions of everyday life
•
What particular burdens might the people
be having to endure?
(From : Laver, Russia 1914-1941,1991,p7-8)
Rodzianko visited Tsar at his HQ on 20
January 1917 and said
•
"The spirit of the people is such that the
gravest upheavals may be expected…"
•
" A change in government and
appointment of a RESPONSIBLE premier
invested with the confidence of the
nation…"
•
"Sire ,there is not a single honest or
reliable man lefty in your entourage. All
the best have either been eliminated or
have resigned…"
•
What might cause such feelings of
outrage amongst the liberals and elite?
•
"Indignation and hatred for the empress.
Looked on as Germanys champion, a
spy…"
( From : Massie- Nicholas and
Alexandra,1967 p374
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Warnings and advice not
heeded (2)
• British Ambassador
•
Michael Rodzianko
•
•
•
Sir George Buchanan
•
•
•
•
Warned the Tsar in February 1917
Gave a stark warning to the Tsar
that disaster lay ahead of him if
action not taken to grant some
form of constitutional reform
“The people and army but one”
"You have now to choose between
two paths...one will lead you to
victory and a glorious
peace......the other to revolution
and disaster...I implore you to
choose the former…."
(From Buchanan- My Mission in
Russia,1923)
Complete the focus questions
Malone p93)
•
•
General Globachev
11
Trouble is brewing…..
• January
• January 9: 140,000 strike in
•
Petrograd to commemorate
Bloody Sunday; strikes in other
cities.
• January 24: The Workers Group
calls for a strike on February 14
(date of Duma's next recall) to
demand overthrow of Tsar and
creation of provisional
government.
• January 31: Strikes across
Russia. Consider this statement“Petrograd is starving. The city
stockpile for flour will last only 10
more days. Meat supplies are
completely depleted. Massive
queues for food form, despite
excruciatingly cold temperatures.
February
• February 14: 100,000+ strike in
Petrograd; Duma reconvenes and
attacks the government over food
shortages. The Bolshevik Petrograd
Committee calls on workers to
overthrow the Tsar.
• February 19: Petrograd authorities
announce that bread will be rationed
from March 1st; panic buying ensues.
• Feb 23,Weather improves and
temp is a “balmy -5 degrees and
will remain pleasant for until 3rd
March. People venture out onto
streets in search of food….
12
Masses:
20,000 workers strike at the
Putilov engineering works.
Workers demand pay rises and
reemployment of sacked
workers.
No response from Tsar, Duma
or soldiers
13
Masses:
Bolsheviks of Vyborg district call
strike to coincide with International
Women’s Day. Female marchers
urge male workers to join the
strike.100,000 men go on streets in
sympathy. Main protest is over lack
of bread.
Government:
Cossacks reluctant to interfere
Inexperienced and without whips..
Duma:
Passes motion to organise food supply.
Petitions Tsar for a responsible cabinet
to be set up. Request denied.
Revolutionaries:
Bolshevik Vyborg Committee
decides to expand movement.
14
Masses:
Strikes spread to other districts. As
many as 200,000 people now on
streets. Bread riots Minor violence.
Banners-down with war, autocracy
Government:
Cossacks still reluctant to suppress
strikers as long as bread only demand.
Duma:
Growing concern but no action.
Revolutionaries:
Socialist agitators urge on
protests.Gap between Bolshevik
activists and others grows.
15
Masses:
General Strike involving
240,000 workers. Petrograd
paralysed. Demands for end
to war. Newspapers closed
Government:
First Cossacks defect. 9
demonstrators killed by police.
Duma:
Continue to debate about food
distribution..
Nicholas II:
Revolutionaries:
Informed of disturbances. Orders
suppression of disturbances.
Alexandra-”This is a hooligan
movement. Young people run about
and shout there is no bread, simply to
create excitement. But all this will
pass if only the Duma will behave
Call for Soviets to be
established.Sakhanov-”give
the workers a pound of
bread and the movement 16
will peter out”
Police vs soldiers
• The police were hated and seen as “theirs”
• Also known as “pharaohs”
• Rumour that police chief had promised 500 roubles for each wound
inflicted on a protestor!
• Army and its soldiers on other hand courted
• Soldiers seen as “ours", of the people
• “It was hoped that if they were ordered to fuse force against the
crowds they would likely come over to the peoples side….Once this
was clear that this would be so-from the soldiers hesitation to
disperse the demonstrators, from the expressions on the soldiers
faces and the odd wink by a soldier to the crowd-the initiative had
passed to the peoples side. This was a crucial psychological
moment in the revolution” Figes, A peoples Tragedy,p310
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Masses:
Troops firing on crowds
regularly. This enrages crowd
and will have consequences.
Government:
First whole company deserts.
Government suspends Duma
and begins to rule by decree.
Duma:
Nicholas II:
Dismissed Rodzianko warnings
as ‘nonsense’, and ordered army
to suppress disturbances,
despite commanders’ concerns
over troop loyalty. Orders
dismissal of duma.
Informed Nicholas that
Petrograd was in anarchy. Tsar
asked to appoint a new ministry.
Revolutionaries:
Trotsky defines this day as
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decisive-why?
Masses:
170,000 troops revolt with mutiny of
Volynsky Regiment. Rebels arrest
Duma ministers. Workers control
entire city except Winter Palace.
Protestors release 15,000 from jails
Soviet
Government:
Government resigned.
Ministers arrested by rebels.
Duma:
Nicholas II:
Russian Army Command
(Stavka) receive contradictory
orders from Nicholas and
forces in Petrograd.
Provisional Committee of the
Duma is formed.
Revolutionaries:
Petrograd Soviet of Workers
and Soldiers’ Deputies is
formed at the Tauride Palace.
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Masses:
All military units join the
insurrection. Freed Prisoners
cause chaos. A Workers Militia
is formed in Vyborg, and its
deputies elected to the Soviet.
Soviet
Government:
Troop loyalty collapses.
Duma:
Nicholas II:
Stavka decide on counterrevolutionary action.
Nicholas decides to return to
Tsarkoe Selo, Petrograd.
Provisional Committee decides
to take power and orders the
formation of a city militia.
Revolutionaries:
Petrograd Soviet issues its first
paper, Izvestia, issues Order No 1soldiers to only recognize authority
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of soviet.
Masses:
Workers’ militia formed in all
districts. Army declared itself
to be under control of Soviet
under Order Number One.
Moscow follows Petrograd.
Soviet
Government:
No government.
Duma:
Nicholas II:
Stakva alarmed at spread of
revolution to Moscow and
Kronstadt. Nicholas stopped
from reaching Petrograd by
army, and advised to resign.
Provisional Committee discuss
Nicholas’ abdication. Tsar’s
train stopped outside Petrograd.
Revolutionaries:
Discussed whether to form
coalition with Provisional
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Committee.
Masses:
Hostility to suggestion that
monarchy may continue.
Beginning of campaign to
seize property.
Soviet
Duma:
Guchkov worked to secure
Tsar’s abdication. Milyukov
announced formation of
Provisional Government.
Revolutionaries:
Nicholas II:
Nicholas agrees to abdicate.
Negotiations between
Provisional Committee and
Petrograd Soviet leads to
formation of Provisional
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Government.
Masses:
Streets begin to return to
normal.
Soviet
Duma:
Prince Lvov proclaimed as new
head of a Provisional
Government.
Revolutionaries:
Nicholas II:
Nicholas’ abdication accepted
by Army.
Izvestia printed both
Provisional Government and
Soviet proclamations. Terms
for the conditional support of
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the Soviet drawn up.
18th to the
25th of
February
• 25 Feb – A General strike
• 18 Feb – Putilov 20,000
paralyses Petrograd – a
workers go on strike in
wide range of opposition
disagreement over pay
now showing their
discontent. The police do
• 23 Feb – International
little – in fact many have
Women’s Day – female
sympathy with the
demonstrators join
protestors.
those already
protesting. Demands
• The Tsar remains 400 miles
included an end to
from Petrograd – relies on
bread rationing, better
his advisors and the
wages and an end to the
Tsarina for information.
first world war.
Tells his General in
Petrograd to end the
problems quickly.
24
Real Revolution
26th February – 3rd
March
• 26 Feb – Khabalov
(Petrograd army
commander) fails to put
down the demonstrators.
Majority of Petrograd army
garrison deserts and some
join the protestors.
• 27 Feb – Tsar dissolves the
Duma.
12 Duma members refuse to
be dismissed and form the
Provisional Committee –
open defiance to the Tsar –
Kerensky calls for the Tsar
to quit.
• The Petrograd Soviet is set
up.
• The Provisional Committee
and the Soviet form a Dual
Authority and become a ‘de
facto’ government.
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The Tsar is advised by Rodzyanko to abdicate but instead he
decided to return to Petrograd – as he hopes it will calm the
situation. His train is intercepted by anti-Tsar protestors and
he finally decides to abdicate.
2 March – Tsar Nicholas II officially abdicates in favour of his
brother but his brother turns down the throne – The Romanov
dynasty is over!!!
26
3 March – The Provisional Committee supported by the
Petrograd Soviet announced to the world that a revolution
had occurred and that the Tsar had abdicated. Russia was
now to be ruled by the Dual Authority – Centuries of
Tsarist rule were over!!!!!
Kerensky (centre in white)
A meeting at the Soviet
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Russian Western
Calender Calendar
Key Crisis or event in Petrograd
18 Feb
3 March
20,000 workers strike at Putilov steel works
23 Feb
8 March
90,000 protestors at International Women’s day march
24 Feb
9 Mar
200,000 workers on strike. Soldiers patrol city
25 Feb
10 Mar
Strikes closes entire city
26 Feb
11 Mar
Soldiers join protesters, firing on police. Tsar does not
believe Rodzianko’s warnings of revolution,
27 Feb
12 Mar
The entire army revolts and the Duma forms the
Provisional Committee
28 Feb
13 Mar
Fighting between soldiers and loyal police. Prov
Committee declare themselves the Prov Government.
Petrograd Soviet formed by workers & soldiers
1 March
14 Mar
Petrograd Soviet assert control; Tsar allows Prov Govt
and starts return journey to Petrograd
2 March
15 Mar
Tsar abdicates; Prov Govt takes control of Russia
3 March
16 Mar
Fighting ends. Grand Duke Mikhail abdicates ending 28
300
years of Romanov Dynasty
Was the
February
Revolution an
‘overthrow
from without
or a collapse
from within’?
Prepared by Mr. Harris
29
Activities
• 1) *Malone-(pp97) Activity- complete your own table of the key
events providing an overview like mine above Also may use HTAV
P79-80 for information.
• *Show video clip- Russian rev in color part 1.
• 2) Malone (p97) Discussion- synthesis- Which day do you consider
to be most important? Provide evidence. Is there a single event that
is most significant? Provide evidence. What was the most important
factor in the causes of the Feb rev? Leaders? ideas? or popular
movements?
• 3)Malone (P97) Empathy- imagine you are a key player in the Feb
rev. This may be done in form of a debate or a radio interview.
• Prepare an account from your perspective
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Activities
•
•
•
•
•
•
4) Historians perspectives-Malone (p98) Key debate question: Was the Feb rev
spontaneous or organized? Look at two different opinions and answer
questions. Discuss as a group.
5) Document analysis- The Tsars abdication Malone (p99) Read around the
abdication from various different sources and answer the questions. Cite your
sources in your answers. Htav p82
6) Historians perspectives-key debate question 2: Was the Tsar pushed off his
throne or did he choose to give up willingly?" Malone (p101) Answer questions
and read around this key question, citing your evidence as gathered from your
research and historiography.
7) The proclamation of the Provisional govt Htav p81- a good primary source
document to look at to get some insight into the makeup and initial aims of the
provisional government.
Extension activity: Historiography
Students can view the documents on the wiki and after initial discussion
complete the historiographical exercise.
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