The February Revolution, 1917

What was the February Revolution?

The February Revolution was the first of two revolutions which took place in Russia in 1917. The February Revolution began with strikes and riots over the lack of food.

When was the February Revolution?

The February Revolution is sometimes known as the March Revolution depending on which calendar is used. It took place between 23rd February and 3rd March, 1917, using the old calendar, or between 8th and 16th March, 1917, using the new one.

Where did the February Revolution take place?

The February Revolution of 1917 occurred in Petrograd. Petrograd, located on the Baltic Sea in the north-west of Russia, was called St Petersburg until 1914. It was then renamed, as it was felt the original name was 'too German'. It became Leningrad in 1924, after Lenin's death, and was then renamed St Petersburg once again in 1991.

What caused the February Revolution?

There were several immediate and long-term causes of the February Revolution.

What were the long-term causes of the February Revolution?

There were 4 key long-term causes:

• ❖ The discontent caused by the awful living and working conditions of the working class.
• ❖ The discontent caused by poverty and the frequent hunger suffered by peasants. There were also continuing issues with land ownership.
• ❖ Middle class anger and frustration at not having any real political power.
• ❖ The nationalities from the different provinces wanted to be independent from Russian rule.

What were the immediate causes of the February Revolution?

There were 6 key immediate causes of the February Revolution:

• ❖ The First World War caused significant disruption to Russia's economy and eroded the support for Nicholas II from the peasants, the working class, the middle class and the upper class.
• ❖ Russia was suffering from food and fuel shortages during the winter of 1916-17.
• ❖ By January 1917, the morale of the Russian Army was very low with 1.5 million deserting in 1916.
• ❖ On 9th February, there were massive strikes in Moscow and Petrograd.
• ❖ The strikes increased when, on 19th January, the Petrograd authorities announced bread would be rationed from 1st March.
• ❖ There was a huge march in Petrograd on 23rd February, celebrating International Women's Day, which became an anti-government protest against the war and the tsar.

What were the key events of the February Revolution?

There were 6 key events during the February Revolution:

• ❖ By 25th February, 200,000 people were on strike in Petrograd.
• ❖ On 26th February, Nicholas II ordered the fourth Duma to close down but they refused.
• ❖ On 27th February, Nicholas II ordered the army to shoot the protesters. 66,000 soldiers from the Petrograd garrison refused and mutinied, and joined the protesters instead. The Petrograd Soviet, or workers council, was created.
• ❖ On 28th February, the Petrograd Soviet issued Order Number 1 which stated that the armed forces should only obey the orders of the Soviet. On the same day the sailors in Kronstadt mutinied. At this point, Nicholas II was asked to abdicate.
• ❖ On 1st March, the Soviets recognised the authority of the Provisional Government set up by the fourth Duma under the leadership of Prince Lvov.
• ❖ Tsar Nicholas II abdicated on behalf of himself and his son on 2nd March, 1917.

What were the results of the February Revolution?

There were 3 main results of the February Revolution.

• ❖ The end of 300 years of Romanov rule and the end of the monarchy.
• ❖ This was followed by the end of the empire and the formation of the republic in the spring of 1917.
• ❖ The establishment of dual power, or dual authority, between the Russian Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies.

Why did the February Revolution succeed?

There were 6 main reasons the February Revolution succeeded:

• ❖ The main reason was the army failed to support Tsar Nicholas II and refused to fire on the protesters. The mutiny meant Nicholas II could no longer rely on the support of the army to prop up his government.
• ❖ Aristocrats and key members of his own government lost faith in Nicholas II, withdrew their support, and persuaded Nicholas II to abdicate.
• ❖ There was an alternative government to Nicholas II when the fourth Duma created the Provisional Government, which was supported by the Petrograd Soviet.
• ❖ Nicholas II was blamed for Russia's failures in the First World War and, as a result, he lost the support of many different social classes including the workers, the middle class and the aristocrats. He was left with little support.
• ❖ The shortages caused by the First World War significantly increased the amount of discontent in Russia, so opposition became much more widespread and more dangerous to Nicholas II's position.
• ❖ The reputation of the tsar's government had been fundamentally weakened by the failures in the First World War and the influence Rasputin was reputed to have had over Tsarina Alexandra.

How did the February Revolution affect the First World War?

The most significant mutiny of the war was that of the Russian armies on the Eastern Front during 1917. This was significant for 4 reasons:

• ❖ This mutiny was enabled by low morale and a loss of faith in tsarism.
• ❖ The mutiny helped the February revolution succeed. The Imperial Guard in Petrograd deserted and joined the revolution, signaling that both officers and men were not willing to defend the tsar.
• ❖ The February Revolution did not end the war on the Eastern Front. Despite many problems, the Provisional Government remained loyal to the Triple Entente.
• ❖ The Russian Army was still capable of fighting and this is shown in the June Offensive of 1917.