The February 1917 Revolution

L.O. you must be able to:Explain who was involvedExplain why the Feb Rev succeeded whereas the 1905 Revolution had failed to topple the tsarExplain why getting rid of the Tsar didn’t solve Russia’s problems

Basic outline of events

• Situation by early March 1917• 10 March

• 12 March •

• 14 March

• 15 March

• All of the ingredients for unrest• soldiers refused to fire on

strikers• soldiers mutinied and joined

rebels• Petrograd Soviet of People’s

and Soldiers’ Representatives

• Formation of Provisional Government to replace tsar

• Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II

1. Who played a part in the Revolution? Is it possible to say that any of these “caused”

the revolution?The workers in Petrograd:

What part did they play?

The soldiers in the Petrograd Garrison

What part did they play?

The liberals and conservatives in the Duma

What part did they play?

The Petrograd Soviet of People’s and Soldiers’ Representatives

What part did they play?

Nicholas II

What part did he play?

The top army advisors

What part did they play

2. Why did the Tsar survive the 1905 Revolution but not the Feb Rev of 1917?

Length and seriousness of the war before 1905

Length and seriousness of the war before 1917

Attitude of the armed forces, both away from and in the capital

Attitude of the armed forces, both away from and in the capital

Number and size of groups of people who opposed the tsar, and what they demanded

Number and size of groups of people who opposed the tsar, and what they demanded

Groups of people who supported the tsar

Groups of people who supported the tsar

How organised and well supported were the opposition leaders?

How organised and well supported were the opposition leaders?

2a. Which are the ESSENTIAL ingredients for a successful revolution?

• A bad ruler?• An unpopular ruler?• War ?• Hunger?• Military forces that don’t support the ruler?• Elites that no longer support the tsar?• Disappointed hopes?• United opposition?• Opposition leader?

3. Why didn’t getting rid of the tsar solve Russia’s problems? (Don’t cheat!)

• You are a members of the 12 man Provisional Government:

• A) What problems need tackling at once?• B) What longer term decisions have to be

made?• C) Whose wishes do you have to consider?• D) is there any chance of a counter-revolution or

a further revolution by the people?