The downfall of the Tsar was caused by these problems which increased the discontent of the people
1914:
- Russia enters the war, supported by it's people
- People slowly lose support for war after heavy losses at the Battle of Tannenburg
Sep 1915:
- Tsar became the supreme commander on the Eastern Front
- This linked the Tsar directly to military failures
- Unpopular German Tsarina ruled the country
Oct 1916:
- Workers were forced to join the army
- 1.7 million soldiers were lost, 2 million were prisoners of war, 1 million were missing after fighting the German offensive
Winter 1916-7
- The poor climate for food meant a food shortage
- High prices for food caused the poor to starve
Jan 1917
- Prices in Petrograd (new name for St Petersburg) increased by 6 times
- People protested to increase their wages and to get food
11 Feb 1917
- Large crowd protested strongly against war and caused damage in the cities
22 Feb 1917
- Putilov Ironworks kicked their workforce out after they demanded higher wages
- 20,000 workers protested
- Army was ordered to fire on the people but refused, with some soldiers even joining in to protest
23 Feb 1917
- Protestors demanded food and 50,000 more workers came to strike
26 Feb 1917
- Tsar Nicholas II ordered Duma to close, and the President of the Duma suggested the abdication of the Tsar, and nominated a Provisional Government led by George Lvov (later replaced by Kerensky)
27 Feb 1917
- 200,000 workers on strike
- Nicholas II (still commanding the frontlines of the war) told the army to fire on all protesters
- Some obeyed, and others joined in the protest
28 Feb 1917
- The Russian army high command was scared that the protests would weaken Russia's military in the war
- Suggested Tsar abdicated and be replaced by another member of the royal family
- The Grand Duke refused the throne
1 March
- The Tsar abdicates and the Provisional Government becomes the new government
Reasons for the 1917 Revolution
Historians argue that a few reasons may have caused the 1917 revolution. Some include...
- Tsar Nicholas' intolerance for political reform, and the lack of representation of the people
- Tsar Nicholas' military failures as commander showed the Tsar's poor decision making, which could no longer be completely blamed on ministers
However, two individuals have damaged the reputation of the Tsar greatly, causing great discontent among the people. These were Rasputin and the Tsarina
Rasputin
- Originally a wandering peasant from Siberia that had joined a monastery
- Claimed he had special healing powers
- Tsar and Tsarina's son, Alexis, suffered from hemophilia
- Alexis was in a health crisis in 1908, and Rasputin was invited to the palace save him
- Rasputin managed to stop the bleeding and became close to the Tsar
- Had a terrible reputation and loved partying, having the reputation of being drunk and partying
- When Tsar became the commander, he had a greater role in leading the country
- He fired ministers and assigned posts based on his "visions"
- Was a close advisor to the Tsarina
- Damaged Tsar's reputation
- He was asassinated at the end of 1916
Tsarina
- She was disliked as it was clear that she did not want democracy and disliked the Russian people
- Became the ruler when the Tsar left to be the supreme commander
- She was German and put in charge of the country while the Russians were fighting Germany in the war
- Rasputin became her advisor and she dismissed and assigned posts rapidly under his influence
- Politicians were concerned that the Tsarina and Rasputin were German supporters trying to take over the government
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