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In February 1917 (March by the Western calendar — Russia still used the old Julian calendar), a spontaneous revolution in Petrograd overthrew the 300-year-old Romanov dynasty and ended Tsarist rule in Russia. This lesson examines the causes, events, and immediate consequences of the February Revolution for AQA GCSE History.
The February Revolution was caused by a combination of long-term problems and an immediate crisis.
| Cause | Detail |
|---|---|
| Autocracy | Nicholas II's refusal to share power or make meaningful reforms |
| Poverty | Widespread poverty among peasants and industrial workers |
| Military failure | Catastrophic defeats in the First World War |
| Economic crisis | Inflation, food shortages, fuel shortages, and transport breakdown |
| Loss of support | The Tsar had lost the support of almost every section of society — workers, peasants, the middle class, and even many nobles |
The winter of 1916–1917 was exceptionally harsh. In Petrograd:
| Date (Old Calendar) | Date (New Calendar) | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 18 February | 3 March | Workers at the Putilov steel works (Petrograd's largest factory) went on strike |
| 23 February | 8 March | International Women's Day — thousands of women marched through Petrograd demanding bread; they were joined by workers and students; approximately 90,000 people protested |
| 24–25 February | 9–10 March | The strikes spread; over 200,000 workers were on strike; clashes with police |
| 26 February | 11 March | The Tsar ordered troops to fire on the demonstrators; soldiers reluctantly obeyed, killing approximately 40 people |
| 27 February | 12 March | Key turning point — soldiers of the Petrograd garrison mutinied and joined the protesters; armouries were raided; police stations were attacked |
| 27 February | 12 March | The Petrograd Soviet was re-established by workers and soldiers |
| 27 February | 12 March | Members of the Duma formed a Provisional Committee (later the Provisional Government) |
| 2 March | 15 March | Tsar Nicholas II abdicated (gave up the throne) |
Exam Tip: The key turning point was when the soldiers mutinied. Without the army's loyalty, the Tsar was powerless. Make sure you explain why the soldiers joined the revolution — they were mainly conscripts from the working class who shared the demonstrators' grievances about food, war, and the government.
Nicholas abdicated because he had no support left.
| Group | Attitude |
|---|---|
| Workers | Had been on strike for days; demanded an end to autocracy |
| Soldiers | The Petrograd garrison mutinied; even the Cossacks (traditionally the Tsar's most loyal troops) refused to fire on the crowds |
| Duma politicians | Told the Tsar that abdication was the only way to prevent anarchy |
| Military commanders | The army's generals advised Nicholas to abdicate to preserve order |
| Nobles | Many had already lost faith in the Tsar after the Rasputin scandal |
On 2 March 1917 (15 March, new calendar), Nicholas signed his abdication at the town of Pskov. He initially abdicated in favour of his brother, Grand Duke Michael, but Michael refused the throne. The Romanov dynasty, which had ruled Russia for over 300 years, was over.
After the Tsar's abdication, two bodies claimed authority in Russia — a situation known as Dual Power (dvoevlastie).
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Led by | Initially Prince Georgy Lvov (a liberal); from July 1917, Alexander Kerensky (a moderate socialist) |
| Membership | Mainly liberal politicians from the Duma (Kadets and Octobrists) |
| Legitimacy | Self-appointed; not elected; intended to govern until a Constituent Assembly could be elected |
| Powers | Controlled the government ministries and official state apparatus |
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Led by | Initially Mensheviks and SRs; Bolsheviks gained influence later |
| Membership | Elected representatives of workers and soldiers |
| Legitimacy | Had the direct support of the workers and soldiers of Petrograd |
| Powers | Controlled the railways, postal service, and telegraph; issued Order Number One, which gave soldiers' committees the right to overrule officers — effectively giving the Soviet control of the army |
Exam Tip: Dual Power is a key concept. The Provisional Government had official authority but lacked real power. The Soviet had real power (through Order Number One and control of transport) but did not want to govern directly. This unstable arrangement was a major factor in explaining why the Bolsheviks were able to seize power in October 1917.
The Provisional Government introduced significant reforms:
| Reform | Detail |
|---|---|
| Political freedoms | Freedom of speech, press, and assembly; all political prisoners released; political parties legalised |
| Legal reforms | Abolished the death penalty; ended discrimination based on religion or nationality |
| Promise of elections | Promised to hold elections for a Constituent Assembly |
| 8-hour working day | Introduced for factory workers |
However, the Provisional Government made critical mistakes:
| Mistake | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Continued the war | Kerensky launched a new offensive in June 1917 that was a catastrophic failure; soldiers deserted in huge numbers; the war remained deeply unpopular |
| Delayed land reform | Peasants wanted land immediately; the government said they must wait for the Constituent Assembly; peasants began seizing land on their own |
| Delayed elections | The Constituent Assembly election was repeatedly postponed |
| Economic failure | Inflation continued; food shortages worsened; living conditions did not improve |
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