Feburary 1917 Revolution Causes:
Event
Long Term Cause
Short Term Cause
100,000 protestors on International Women's day 23rd Feb 1917 due to lack of food
Poor leadership and decision making by Tsar Nicholas II
Poor decision making in WWI
Nicholas' abscence in Russia during wartime
Nicholas did not have the personality or preparation to lead
He was not trained as a politician (statesman), rather a soldier
Preoccupied with family matters, specifically his haemophiliac son
Difficulty in settling into his role and devoting time to russia
Led to event because he was not equipped with sufficient skills to make appropriate decisions in WWI
Tsar ignored the protests and returned to the warfront ordering soliders to fire on the mass of protestors (Bloody Sunday)
The provisional Government was formed which ultimately took over and dictated the movements of the Tsar
War in 1914, against Germany and Austria-Hungary.
Russia mobilised troops when Serbia was invaded by Austria-Hungary.
Germany declared war on Russia 1 aug 1914
Swell of patriotic favour and Duma approval, before quickly realising how unprepared they were
Returning from the warfront, Tsar pushed into a siding in Petskov, forcing the abdication of him and his son 2nd March 1917
The next day, 3rd March 1917, Tsar brother refuses the throne
First battle with germany, Battle of Tannenberg, 30,000 casualties 5 days
300 years of Romanov Dynasty comes to an end
Late industrialisation took toll, factories could not handle pressure, ran out of ammo by dec 1914
Russia becomes a democratic system under the provisional government and leader George Lvov
Event led to formation of the USSR, and Russia’s worldwide emergence as a supernation (why significant)
Backwards running of Russian Society
Rushed/Late industrialisation
Autocratic system of governance
Serfdom act 1861 (abolish all serfdom)
No sufficient transport or communication, late urbanisation so little nationalist pride from soldiers
Autumn 1915, estimated 800,000 russian soldiers dead and no significant territory gains, that september after major russian retreat, tsar dismissed his army commander-in-chief Nicholas Nicholaevich
Tsar most crucial mistake to personally go to frontlines and lead
Poor working conditions - Famine - due to redemption taxes
He was not prepared, had no previous involvement in strategic warfare and commanding armed forces
Ministers and generals recognised this and disapproved, he was personally blamed for russia’s defeat
Tsarina Alexandra and Grigori Rasputin left to do day-to-day ruling of russia
Detrimental to stability and reputation of monarchy, tsarinas relationship with rasputin (disreputable/scandalous) and her german ancestry irreparably tarnished her image
She constantly fired ministers, 1915 to 1917 4 different pms
Nicholas out of touch, left st. petersburg when strikes and marches were occuring feb 1917
95% Russians lived in the countryside leading to the late revolution in 1890s
How this led to the 1917 Febuary Revolution
Industrialisation happened, and led to mass overcrowding and subsequent slum-like conditions with long working hours, and low wages
Culmination of events, complete distrust, increased frustrations, lost faith in tsar and autocracy
People wanted change, and with tsars absence in 1917 a power vacuum ensued giving way for revolutionary action
85% peasants (farmers)
The rapid industrialisation / urbanisation led to a 20% inflation rate on bread by 1905
Growth in nationalistic tendencies - divided nation
Growth in anti-sematic belief - 1.5million Jews left between 1881 and 1914 leading to political and economic instability
Provoke the Russo-Japanese War
Unsuccessful, Tsar fled on 22nd Jan 1905
Gapon led protestors to the Tsar soldiers again told to open fire, 4,000 died (Bloody Sunday)
"One of the key events that led to the Feburary Revolution"
Prioritisation
1905 October Revolution
Long Term Cause
Short Term Cause
Set to stop unrest and restore order with freedom of speech and the formation of Duma government
Duma resolved 2 times by the Tsar and the 3rd Duma lasted 5 years until 1912
Tsar Nicholas consistently went back on his promises to the Duma the October Manifesto
Duma unsuccessful in the long term
Tsar time away from the nation during the time on the warfront, made him distanced from the actual needs of the country, leading to a lack of understanding and connection with the public.
Lack of faith and trust in the Tsar due to his time away and lack of understanding of his nation, which ultimately allowed for the revolution to happen due to discontent.
Although the October Manifesto becomes apart of a long term cause, the changes to it due to the short term cause of the Tsar's poor decision making (going to the warfront) led to the ultimate distrust in his actions. When he went back on his promises to the Duma and the implementation of the October Manifesto, this led to greater mistrust and discontent - protests and revolution
If Nicholas improved, it’s possible that conditions could have improved under autocracy, however by WWI, any attempt would only delay inevitable.
Tsarist regime, never be successful in industrialised Russia. It was built on hierarchical system, in which slavery/serfdom thrived, but in 1917 when factory work boomed and peasantry was substituted for a proletariat working class, the repressive backwards nature could never last.
This is proved by late industrialisation, the Tsar's were comfy with conservative policies, lacked interest/encouragement.
By 1917, generations of frustrations built among people, famines, slums, serfdom, peasantry, lost faith in leader and systems power to take care of you and Russia.
If he had followed his guidelines of the manifesto, Russia may have seen a much smoother transition to the dual-governance system of autocracy and democracy and the event of the February revolution in 1917 could have been prevented
-- Therefore more significant cause --
(Both inherently linked)
Harsh conditions was more important as it cultivated a culture in which change on a revolutionary level was possible and inevitable.
Poor decisions were only the trigger to determine specifics. With Tsar absent to WWI power vacuum created the opportunity for the revolution to play out.
-- Therefore more significant cause --
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