February Revolution 1917

February Revolution 1917

The rising that came, was not the first open move against the tsarist government as the octobrists in the duma demanded for the removal of generals and ministers. However the Feb 1917 revolution was different in speed and the range of opposition, with rumors of serious disturbances in Petrograd widespread since January.

‘Hostile peasants, not only against government', but all other social groups, proletariat on the verge of despair and workers are ready to go on a hunger riot, if directed by revolutionaries the government could be overthrown’
Rodzianko warned the Tsar of very serious outbreaks of unrest with ‘not one honourable man left’ in the tsar’s ministry and that all good ministers had the decency to leave or had been dismissed. A full scale strike started on Feb 18th at the largest steel works in Petrograd, Putilov. The next five days saw them being joined by growing numbers of people angered by a further cut in bread supplies, a bread riot. These were rumors, but people believed and continued. The 23rd of February coincided with International Women’s day, and so thousands of women joined the protesters on the street to demand for more food and an end to the war. The police grew in sympathy and trying to stop the riot was next to impossible. There was great confusion from the top, as the political outcries were cut up in the demand for food/war ending message.
The Tsar relied on news largely from letters.

Nicholas ordered the General Khabalov to restore order, and he replied that various army units and the police were fighting each other, a wide scale mutiny due to growing sympathy, by 26th Feb., 150,000 troops had deserted, and the other sent troops also deserted. Rodzianko informed the tsar, the only way to preserve his rule is to make a major concession, Nicholas once again shown how out of touch he was with the Russian Government and dissolved the Duma. A group of twelve of the previous duma formed together to create a Provision Committee, the first political defiance against the tsar. Alexander Kerensky of the committee called for the Tsar to stand down.
On the exact same day, another event happened as a constitutional defiance against the Tsar. This was the first meeting of the Petrograd soviet of soldiers, sailors and workers deputies. The Mensheviks pushed the soviet forward. These two bodies, became the de facto government of Russia, and the soviet would be elected by universal suffrage to summon a constituent assembly.

The remaining ministers, used the idea of electricity failure to abandon their offices, and slipped out of the capital. Rodzianko, who was still loyal, recommended personal abdication to save the monarchy. Nicholas decided to return to Petrograd as his presence would have a ‘calming effect’ but this was impossible as his train was intercepted and diverted to Pskov, The generals met the tsar to inform him returning would be impossible, and that abdication was necessary. The Provisional Committee found itself governing Russia.

The character shows, that when the problem arises, it was the politicians unwillingness to do anything and the generals lack of direction which caused tsarism to collapse. The revolutionary pressure just exposed the weakness of the government officials. The Bolsheviks played no part As they were in exile and took Lenin by surprise who did not expect to see it in his lifetime.
Petrograd, was the only real place that it occurred, and Russia was willing to accept it, Trotsky ‘ the rest of the country adhered, with no one willing to fight for the Tsar, any institutions, governors, military units or parties (octobrists spoke out)’. 1500-2000 people were killed. It was the Tsars most loyal supporters where the rejection started, The high ranking officers said he should step down, as did the Dumas’ aristocratic members and his ministers who abdicated too. The Police refused to try and keep order for him as did Khabalov. The Striking was not the only problem, it was the lack of nerve from the top that caused it to be a revolution, and tsarism gave up its will.

SUMMARY
General unrest all year round in Petrograd, just never took a lead, the Revolution began as a challenge due to the aristocratic Duma members forming the PG and the flight of the ministers.
Strikes in major factories lead to the Bread Riot after the rationing of bread rumour and international women’s day all coincided on one day. Disorder spreads, and Police and garrison troops cannot control situation and begin to mutiny. 12 duma members form the provision committee, and the Mensheviks form the Petrograd Soviet. Nicholas tried to return but was prevented, and so army command suggests abdication. Dual authority is de facto.
This was a revolution from above, the first aristocratic members of the duma calling for his abdication, the military general’s reaction to not act and the flight of his ministers.
Bolsheviks played no part, whilst the Mensheviks set up the Petrograd soviet.
The 1905 revolution was managed as Tsarist held its nerve and control of its troops, the Feb 1917 revolution was where both of these area’s were lost. Revolution in one city, it was the countries initiative and willingness to accept. Everybody lost faith in Tsarism, and institutional crisis.

Why did the February Revolution Happen? SUMMARY

THE TSARIST SYSTEM WAS WEAK BECAUSE OF:
Socially: Too big of a country to rule, with many nationalities wanting independence. The defeat in the Russo Japanese War made the Tsar look very bad, lack of education and poor conditions etc.
Politically: Repressive autocracy could only go so far, Nicholas completely lacking vision of Russian people. Rasputin final straw in undermining
Economy: Bad Economy, limited modernisation and 82% Peasantry. Witte/Stolypin’s work was removed by limited visions of the tsar

OVERALL: 1905 revolution displayed that as long as Russian Tsarist system held its nerve and the military, they would survive. However, WAR put huge strains on all of the previous problems, and exposed the problems displayed by the 1905 revolution once again.

THE REVOLUTION HAPPENED BECAUSE OF
World War One created Economic and Social Problems –
-Economical Strain, Lack of Food,
- Dire conditions and Overall lack of Morale
- Tsar responsible for all of this above

Political – Loss of nerve and unwillingness of the Top (Octobrists in Duma, Generals, Police/Troops forces, and Flight of Ministers)