1. The February 1917 Revolution – Why did Nicholas II Fall from Power?

2. Let’s revise what state Russia was in at the outbreak of World War I in Do you think that Nicholas II was about to lose power anyway, even without the war?

4. The effects of World War I on Russia
Food prices were increasing rapidly as food supplies needed to go to the soldiers at the front.
Rations of food went down as each month passed and this led to discontent in the towns, cities and countryside.
Peasants began to hide surplus food and were then tortured and killed by the army as a punishment.

5. What effect do you think this news had on people in Russia?
Was the Russian army ready for the war?
A wave of patriotism and support for the tsar as ‘our Holy Father’ spread across Russia at the start of the war. By the end of 1914 there were 6.5 million soldiers in the Russian army. In 1915 Nicholas assumed supreme command of the army – which meant he wasn’t in Russia.
But there were only four million rifles, not all of which had any bullets. A soldier would have to wait for the man in front of him to be killed, and then he would take his rifle from him.
What effect do you think this news had on people in Russia?

6. Russian newspapers were heavily censored and couldn’t have printed anything against the government. But if they hadn’t been, you would certainly have seen headlines like those on the following slides appearing as the months went on.

7. Russian Officers Murder Lecherous Monk
December 1916
Russian Officers Murder Lecherous Monk
Noble supporters of the tsar murder the drunken, lecherous monk who has influenced the tsarina and brought shame on the tsar.
Teacher’s Notes
Here is some information about Rasputin that will certainly interest the class. The adverse effect that Rasputin had on the Tsar's popularity cannot be exaggerated. Gregory Rasputin was an illiterate peasant monk and a member of the Khlysty sect who believed that you had to sin in order to understand forgiveness. He gained some influence over the tsarina in 1903 after the birth of Alexi, her haemophiliac son. Rasputin seemed to be able to quell the internal bleeding suffered by Alexi by putting his hands on the child's body.
The so-called "Spala miracle" of 1912 convinced the tsarina that Rasputin was some kind of holy man. While on holiday in Poland Alexi was apparently dying. A swelling on his groin wouldn't go down, priests had read the last rites and doctors said there was no way he would live. Unusually, the news had been given to the newspapers and national arrangements for mourning were being made. Rasputin was hundreds of miles away in his native Siberia at the time and Alexandra telegrammed him. He prayed and sent a telegram back saying God had heard her prayers. The story goes that as soon as she finished reading the telegram Alexi sat up in bed and got better.
Rasputin was summoned to the court and became extremely powerful, even helping the tsarina to appoint ministers when Nicholas was away commanding the army. Rasputin's sexual exploits were well known and well publicized. He indulged in sexual orgies with many of the women at court and there were strong rumours of an affair with the tsarina herself. There were some rumours that he was homosexual and others that he was impotent and hypnotized his lovers into thinking he was making love to them. He had a massive influence over Alexandra, frequently appointing his own friends as ministers. Nicholas refused to believe or even listen to the stories about Rasputin and was totally dominated by the tsarina who referred to Rasputin frequently as “our dear friend."
The Significance of the Rasputin Episode
In December 1916 a group of right wing aristocrats assassinated Rasputin. Even his death has attracted shades of mysticism. He is supposed to have been fed a poison cake that had no effect on him, shot but still survived and then knifed and thrown into the river Neva. His lungs had water in them when his body was recovered which suggests that he was still breathing when he hit the river and therefore died by drowning.
What effect do you think news of events such as this would have on the way people felt about the government?

8. Russian Troops Suffer Disastrous Defeat at Battle Of Tannenberg
1914
Russian troops have been forced out of Poland. Polish refugees are making the food shortage situation even worse.
What effect do you think news of events such as this would have on the way people felt about the government?

9. Heroic soldier returns to see his home destroyed.
A soldier’s home was destroyed and his family killed by government forces, it was reported yesterday. The family withheld food to prevent his little sister from starving to death.
What effect do you think news of events such as this would have on the way people felt about the government?

10. Bread queues lengthen in Petrograd
February 1917
Bread queues lengthen in Petrograd
People queuing for hours, yesterday, for a loaf of bread. When they find that there is none left they starve for another day.
What effect do you think news of events such as this would have on the way people felt about the government?

11. 30,000 men locked out of the Pitilov Steel Works for asking for a pay rise
Sacked Petrograd steel workers have been demonstrating in the streets after being locked out of work for going on strike. Their families starve in bread queues that have no bread.
What effect do you think news of events such as this would have on the way people felt about the government?

12. Revolutionary Ideas Spreading Among the People
February 1917
Revolutionary ideas being spread by soldiers and workers distributing leaflets encouraging people to rebel against the tsar. Soldiers are deserting from the army in their thousands.
What effect do you think news of events such as this would have on the way people felt about the government?

13. The riots are getting out of hand, I don’t think I can control them.
On 26 February 1917 there were massive street demonstrations in Petrograd. How do you think Nicholas responded to the worsening situation?
The riots are getting out of hand, I don’t think I can control them.
You are exaggerating! Don’t panic, just use the troops to put the riots down.
Rodzyanko, chairman of the State Duma, in Petrograd.
Tsar Nicholas II, commanding the Russian Army from Mogilev.

14. Order the troops to fire on the crowds
The soldiers refused to fire on the crowds. The chairman of the Duma told Nicholas that a change of government was needed. The crowd were refusing to disperse and they could not be controlled.
© David King Collection
Which of these things would you have done if you were Nicholas II, and why would you have done this?
Order the troops to fire on the crowds
Return to Petrograd and take control
Give the crowd some of their demands

15. I’m not having the Duma or the people telling me what to do.
The Result?
On the 26 February the members of the Duma disobeyed the tsar and met anyway.
Mr Rodzyanko, chairman of the Duma: I’m going to close you down and rule by myself.
25,000 troops mutinied and marched towards the Tauride Palace where the Duma was meeting, not to attack the Duma but to support it in its stand against the tsar.
© David King Collection
The Russian Revolution had begun.

16. The Provisional Government takes over

17. Nicholas II attempts to return
Nicholas tried to return to Petrograd by train to take control of the situation on 2 March. A group of army generals stopped the train and told him it wasn’t safe for him to return as the troops might fire on him. They said he would have to give up power and hand it over to his son Alexi. Nicholas said Alexi was too ill and suggested his own brother the Grand Duke Michael.
The generals refused and so the tsar abdicated (gave up his power).
The Romanov Dynasty, which had lasted for over 400 years in Russia, had come to an end in a few days.

18. Below are some reasons why Nicholas fell from power in February 1917
Below are some reasons why Nicholas fell from power in February Rearrange them into order of importance and then add evidence to back up each one.
Teacher’s Notes
You could also ask the students what other causes could be included, or ask them to divide them into short- and long-term causes.

19. Teacher’s Notes
Question 1
The correct answer is the Provisional Government.
Question 2
The correct answer is showed their patriotism and supported the tsar.
Question 3
The correct answer is Rasputin.
Question 4
The correct answer is the Tauride Palace.
Question 5
The correct answer is give up power.