
Events of February Revolution
Modern History (Year 12) - Internal Divisions and Crises
Ben Whitten
The Events of the Revolution
Â
Early Stages
Â
On the 22nd of February 1917, metal workers in Petrograd went on strike to protest the failures of government and Russia’s continuing involvement in WWI
They were joined the next day by women who looted bakeries to protest bread rationing and food shortages (this was a part of an International Women’s Day demonstration)
The revolution, despite being a spontaneous event, grew and grew
The royal family initially dismissed the strikes as a ‘hooligan movement’ and did little to stop it
1500 dead, several thousand wounded
28th of February 1917, capitol is out of control – there is a significant growth in crime and increase of violence
Â
The Tsar Responds
Â
After a few weeks of strikes and protests, the Tsar (who was still away at war) ordered the soldiers in Petrograd to attack protestors and restore order
Soldiers refused to fire on the crowds – many of them broke ranks and joined the protests, sometimes shooting their commanding officers
The Petrograd Soviet was formed to represent the protestors
Realising the situation was quickly spiralling out of control, the Tsar tried to return to Petrograd, but his train was deliberately diverted to Pskov
Â
The End of Tsardom
Â
Unable to save his regime, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated on the 15th of March 1917
He passed the role of Tsar to his brother Michael who refused the position, and 300 years of Tsardom was over
Tsar Nicholas II were deeply out of touch with the needs and wants of the majority of the Russian population – many of the Tsar’s reforms introduced after the 1905 Revolution still served the interests of Russia’s wealthy – the outbreak of WWI put more pressure than ever on Russia’s poor, most of whom were struggling to survive
His abdication was inevitable according to some historians