The Seeds of Revolution
History: KS3, topic 17.3.6
Long-Term Causes of the February Revolution
It took only a few days for the tsar’s regime to collapse. The revolution happened because of long- and short-term causes, including International Women's Day.
Long-standing discontent
- There was long-standing economic discontent amongst workers and the peasantry.
- The tsar was unpopular as a wartime leader. There had been a lot of casualties and living standards were low.
- This eventually led to revolt.
International Women's Day
- International Women’s Day was on the 23rd February.
- Bread shortages, strikes in bakeries across Petrograd and Moscow and grain hoarding by peasants led thousands of women to march on the streets.
- This made Russia’s problems worse.
The Seeds of Revolution
After 23 February 1917, the combination of worsening living conditions, better weather and political discontent led protesting crowds to grow to 240,000 people. There were then clashes with the police.
Absence of the tsar
- The tsar, in his role as commander-in-chief, was 780 kilometres away at Mogilev.
- The tsar was told that crowds were trying to seize control of the city, and on 25 February he ordered the police and the army to stop the protests.
Escalation of Violence - 26th February
- On the 26 February, soldiers killed 40 protesters even though the soldiers did not fully support the tsar.
- Soldiers from the Pavlovsky Guards in Petrograd refused to follow orders.
- This initial revolt was put down.
Escalation of Violence - 27th February
- The regiment which had executed the protesters the previous day refused to shoot demonstrators on 27 February.
- Other regiments did the same and crowds on the streets now had weapons.
- The young conscripts in the army had little loyalty to the regime.
Collapse of law and order - 28th February
- Law and order officials stopped trying to control the garrison.
- On 28th February, a military commander reported to the tsar that protesters had taken control of the weaponry in the garrison and the railway stations.
- Telephone lines had also been seized by the protesters.
The role of the Duma
- The Duma (parliament) petitioned the tsar to create a cabinet (a committee of senior members of the government) representing the different parties.
- On the streets, the Okhrana (tsar’s secret police) reported that “the masses gained confidence that they could act with impunity” (Secret report, 26 February 1917).
- The tsar refused to allow the Duma to continue sitting or create a representative cabinet.
Test yourself on The Seeds of Revolution
How long did it take for the tsar's regime to collapse?
When was International Women's Day in 1917?
How large were the crowds on the 23rd of February 1917?
Events of the February Revolution
What was included in the 28th February report to the tsar?