February Revolution 1917: Fall of the Tsarist Regime

February Revolution 1917: The Fall of the Tsarist Regime

Food Shortages and Unrest Spark the Uprising

People came out to protest against the Tsarist regime for the simple reason of lack of food, shortages, and hunger. This was not, of course, the only factor. Among all causes, there was also unhappiness with the participation of the population in the First World War. Since January, there had been several strikes throughout Petrograd (the Russified, German-sounding name of Saint Petersburg, in force from 1914 until 1924). The protests grew in February. During this month, the radical left and the liberals coordinated the uprising, spreading and carrying out various activities.

Escalation of Violence and Military Defection

On February 24th, the protests had become very violent, and a large number of residents of the cities had riots and clashes against police and soldiers. When a large number of soldiers were sent to the Russian capital, Saint Petersburg, they were added to the protests, in contrast to what happened in 1905. Then the protest took another revolutionary air, reaching the point where, on March 2nd, Czar Nicholas II abdicated. They had requested that the base of fire crush the revolt of Protestants, but more defectors from their own ranks were on the rise. The prisons, the courts, and police stations were heavily attacked and looted by rebels. Truly, their unhappiness was the fact that this time the army, which had spearheaded the effort to curb the protests, turned against the regime. It was not politicized in favor of the regime.

The Army's Uprising and the Formation of a Provisional Government

The uprising of the army, without which the movement would not have had sufficient force to eject the Tsar, was on February 27th. A day earlier, 50 protesters were killed in front of Znamenskaya in a cycle of strikes and demonstrations from February 23rd to 26th. Thus, on February 27th, the insurrection of the troops took fire from Okhranka buildings (secret police of the Russian Army). The garrison committed to making a revolution, and the creation of the Petrograd Soviet. In addition, Prince Lvov led, on the same day, a provisional government, with Kerensky as Minister of War. The objective of this interim government was to create a Western-parliamentary republic, representing sectors of the liberal bourgeoisie and Mensheviks.

Key Events of the February Revolution

• February 23rd-26th: Cycle of strikes and demonstrations in Petrograd.
• February 24th: Protests escalate into violent riots and clashes.
• February 26th: 50 protesters killed in front of Znamenskaya.
• February 27th: Army uprising begins; Okhranka buildings attacked; Petrograd Soviet formed; Provisional Government established under Prince Lvov.
• March 2nd: Czar Nicholas II abdicates.