February Revolution

Febuary Revolution

Long Term Causes:
Russification:

• Addition of other European land mass filled with minorities forced to Russify. These minorities had their own traditions and cultures that made Tsar rule difficult. Minorities resented Russian control especially the Russification policies that suppress their customs to enforce Russian language and customs onto them. Uprisings and strikes began to arise because of this.
• Russians only made up half the population 

Social Structure of Russia:

• Middle Class: Rise of middle class that brought educated people into local governments. Wanted more power in politics.
• Peasants: Life was incredibly difficult. Were extremely poor, illiterate and uneducated. 
• Agriculture: inefficient, old fashioned and far behind other European powers
• Industry: Most workers were litterate and could complain or accept new revolutionary ideas. Low wages, poor work conditions

Mid-Term Causes:

Modernization:

• Russia's modernization attempts quite successful but still very weak compared to other countries. The cost of making Russia a world power came at the sacrifice to the peasants. Heavy taxes were placed on the people that increased unrest among peasants. 
• Threat to Tsarist regime: industry usually followed democracies and parliaments where the middle and working class could be represented
• Social changes: millions of people living in the country side moved to cities where jobs were available. This created tension among the people, overpopulation, and competition. The workforce became educated which further threatened government and pressure for change. 

First World War:

• Military Defeats: Large number of soldiers who were made up of peasants or men with little skill. Led to an angry home front who blamed the Tsar. The Tsar went to the front to take charge in September 1917, but they suffered even greater losses and more blame towards Tsar.
• Poor conditions at home: What little materials were sent to war front, leaving even less for workers. Loss of raw materials to the war caused factories to close and workers to become jobless. Inflation, food shortages, fuel shortages were all outcomes of the war. Conscription and deaths made people angry. Everyone became hostile towards the Tsar.
• The Tsarina and Rasputin: By going to the war front, the Tsar had to leave someone in charge. He decided to leave the Tsarina and the monk Rasputin in charge of Russia.  Ministers were subbed for the friends of the Tsarina who were incompetent at their jobs. Situations in the home fronts diminished at a greater rate. The Tsar's leadership and decision making was questioned with greater criticism. 
• Failures to Reform: Tsar's hard-fast refusal to make any changes to the government. A constitutional monarchy could have lifted pressures from the Tsar. 

Short Term Causes

International Women's Day:

• Building frustrations cause by the poor conditions at home. The harsh winter of 1916 built tensions within cities. Shortages of basic necessities because of war caused riots. Bread rationing by the end of Febuary 1917 took Russia over the breaking point All this built up tension was released on Febuary 23rd or International Women's Day and a group of women took charge of a protest through Petrograd. The women rallied other factory workers to join in the rally for more bread, an end to the war and for the Tsar to step down. 

Soldier Mutiny:

• Soldiers were facing large number of deaths so instead of being sent to the war front, they joined the protests. The Tsar heard of the revolts in Petrograd and ordered the troops to shoot the crowds on Sunday, February the 26th.The crowds became more hostile and the revolution had begun. 

Many Bolshevik groups took control of the revolution; spreading the protest and advertising their party. The socialists began forming their own political party to represent the workers and the Soviets were created. The Tsar realized that things were beyong his control and abdicated on March 2nd. He offered the position to his brother Michael but was refused. The autocratic government had come to an end.

The Duma created the Provisional Government.