The Russian Revolution
Chapter 8
AOS1 - Revolutionary ideas, leaders, movements
and events
The February Revolution
LEARNING NTENTION:
Explain the events of the February Revolution
• Describe how the geography of St. Petersburg
influenced the Revolution
• Identify warnings given to the Tsar about the
Revolutionary situation
• Create a chronological recount of the
Revolution
• Explore arguments about why the February
Revolution occurred
The February Revolution
• With all these problems ravaging Russia
(particularly food shortages), autocracy was
considered obsolete by many educated and
land-owning Russians who wanted to share
power
The February Revolution:
Understanding Petrograd (St. Petersburg)
The February Revolution:
Advice given to the Tsar in regards to the Revolutionary
situation
•
THE OKRANA:
-
•
CHAIRMAN OF THE DUMA (Mikhail
Rodzianko)
-
•
Warned the Tsar the mood in Petrograd was becoming
critical, potentially Revolutionary
Visited Tsar at army headquarters on January 20 1917
Also warned of impending crisis, asserting Duma has
become unworkable
BRITISH AMBASSADOR
-
Sir George Buchanan (stationed in Russia) warned the Tsar
that Revolution is likely to occur which will severely hinder
the war effort
The February Revolution:
The path to Revolution: Crisis and response
CHRONOLOGY ACTIVITY
Julian Date
Crisis
Political response
18 February
Strike at Putilov Steel works
No strong response
23 February
International Women’s Day strike
(90,000)
24 February
25 February
26 February
27 February
28 February
1 March
2 March
3 March
Julian Date
Crisis
Political response
18 February
Strike at Putilov Steel works
No strong response
23 February
International Women’s Day strike (90,000)
No strong response
25 February
Khabalov reports striking workers total near 240,000.
Transport ceased and newspapers close down
TSAR: Commands Khabalov to
suppress strikes
TSARINA: Dismisses severity of
strikes, blames Duma
26 February
Many soldiers begin to join protesters, firing on police
DUMA: Rodzianko telegrams Tsar
requesting immediate action
TSAR: Dismisses claims, and orders
Duma to stop meeting
27 February
Workers control entire city (except Winter palace) and
telegraph installations). Protesters release 15,000
prisoners. Prisons, police records and furniture burnt
TSAR: Sees this as minor and
suggests Duma works harder to
solve food and fuel problems
DUMA: 12 members of Duma
ignore demands of Tsar and
establish a provisional commitee
SOLDIERS: More soldiers mutiny
and imperial army can no longer be
relied upon to keep peace
28 February
Fighting escalated into extreme violence – Police firing on
crowds
TSAR: But did not act in proposing reform
DUMA: Provisional committe declare
themselves the Provisional Government
SOLDIERS: City now belonged to
protesters. Soldiers and workers form
petrograd Soviet under leadership of
Trotsky
Julian date
Crisis
Political response
1 March
Soldiers from Imperial guard and Cossack march wearing
red ribbons and flags, demonstrating allegiance to
Revolution
TSAR: Approve formation of
Provisional Government. Begins
journey home to solve problems
SOLDIERS: Petrograd soviet assert
control by issuing Soviet Order 1
2 March
Revolutionary soldiers capture train tracks and halt Tsar’s
journey back to Petrograd at Oskov
TSAR: Abdicates, requests brother
Mikhail to become Tsar
DUMA: Provisional Government
take control of Russia
3 March
Peace restored in Petrograd after 1.330 deaths due to
fighting.
TSAR: Grand Duke Mihail abdicates,
ending the reign of the Romanov
Dynasty
EXTENSION:
1. Complete questions in Analysis Activity 2
2. Complete ‘Contentions and Contestability handout
The February Revolution:
The main players
WORKERS AND
CITIZENS OF
PETROGRAD:
TSAR NICHOLAS II:
Overseeing war effort
in distant Mogdilov
Engaging in strikes due to increasing
food and fuel shortages
MIKHAIL
RODZIANKO:
Chairman of the
Duma
COSSACKS:
Informal police force
GRAND DUKE MIKAIL:
Brother of Nicholas II
GENERAL KHABALOV:
No image
In charge of imperial soldiers
who were to keep peace in
Petrograd