17.3.7

The Tsar's Abdication

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Abdication and Collapse of the Regime

Following the dissolution of the duma, members of the Kadet Party and other liberals continued to meet, forming a Duma Committee to reform Russia.

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The tsar's options

  • The tsar’s ministers held one final meeting, and then most left Petrograd.
  • The military now had two options:
    • Send more troops to Petrograd to crush the growing revolt.
    • A political solution: negotiate with the duma to try and put a stop to disorder.
  • Nicholas II chose to negotiate with the duma.
  • He could not reach Petrograd because of the mutinous soldiers, so he met representatives of the army and the duma at Pskov.
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Abdication

  • The tsar quietly agreed to abdicate at this meeting at Pskov. He wanted his son, the Tsarevich Alexsei to take power.
  • But his son had a rare health condition, haemophilia. So, the tsar offered the crown to his brother, Grand Duke Michael.
    • The Grand Duke declined, the regime collapsed, and Russia’s monarchy ended.
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Provisional Government

  • Members of the Duma formed a Provisional (temporary) Government, to rule the country until a general election could choose the next government.
  • The people would then choose representatives to create a ‘Constituent Assembly’ to choose the rules for how Russia would be governed.
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The February Revolution

  • The February revolution had not been caused by the radical political parties.
  • The revolution had started on the streets, and was carried out by the political ruling class.
  • Many of the leaders who would become important in October (including Lenin) were still in exile (away from Russia in punishment).
    • The leaders could only encourage the protesters from overseas.

Jump to other topics

1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5Medieval Religion

1.6The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12European Renaissance

1.13Norman Conquest & Control

1.14Historical Skills

2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4King John

2.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6The Black Death

3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Russian Revolution: 1917 AD

18The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

19World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

20The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

21Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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