Triggers for revolt (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Notes

Triggers for revolt

Understanding the causes of the February Revolution

The February Revolution of 1917 didn't happen overnight - it was the result of both deep-rooted problems that had been building for years and specific events that acted as immediate triggers. The revolution occurred when long-standing grievances about the government combined with short-term crises, particularly around food shortages and the loss of military discipline.

The strike movement and public demonstrations

Growing unrest in Petrograd

Food shortages became a critical problem in Russia's capital city, Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), and in Moscow. When bakeries couldn't provide enough bread for the population, social tensions reached breaking point. These shortages created the perfect conditions for widespread public discontent.

The strike movement began at individual factories and quickly spread across the city:

18 February: Workers at the Putilov Steelworks in Petrograd went on strike, marking the beginning of serious industrial unrest.

23 February: The situation escalated dramatically on International Women's Day when women joined striking workers in anti-government demonstrations. The crowds grew much larger once the government announced that bread rationing might need to begin - a announcement that caused panic among ordinary citizens.

23-25 February: Around 250,000 people took to the streets of Petrograd to demonstrate. The crowds became so large that police struggled to maintain control of the situation.

Military mutiny and the breakdown of order

The army turns against the government

The most critical moment came when the military, which the Tsar depended on to maintain order, began to rebel against orders:

26 February (afternoon): Military commanders ordered soldiers to open fire on demonstrators in Petrograd. This resulted in approximately 40 people being killed.

26 February (evening): Some soldiers became deeply uncomfortable with what their officers were asking them to do. Many felt conflicted about shooting their own people.

28 February: A military report sent to the Tsar declared that Petrograd was completely out of control. The government had lost the ability to maintain order in its own capital city.

The Tsar's fatal absence

Nicholas II's poor timing

One of the most significant factors in the revolution's success was the Tsar's physical absence from the capital during this critical period. On 22 February, Nicholas II made the decision to leave Petrograd for army headquarters, located 780 kilometres away. He was completely unaware of how rapidly the crisis was developing back in the capital.

When trouble broke out on 25 February, Nicholas sent orders to the police and army in Petrograd to end the unrest immediately. However, his decision to leave Petrograd and then attempt to manage the crisis from a distance proved to be a catastrophic mistake that led directly to his abdication.

The Tsarina's unpopular leadership

Alexandra's controversial rule

While Nicholas II was away, Tsarina Alexandra was left to handle the growing crisis. However, she was deeply unpopular with both the Russian people and the Duma (parliament). Her unpopularity stemmed from several factors:

Alexandra relied heavily on the advice of her friend, a mystic healer named Rasputin, rather than listening to the Duma's guidance on how to govern effectively. This infuriated many Russians who felt that important government decisions should not be influenced by someone like Rasputin.

The situation became even more complicated because many members of the Duma believed that the Tsarina should not be allowed to govern at all, creating a power struggle at the worst possible moment.

The perfect storm of immediate causes

All these factors came together to create an unstoppable momentum towards revolution:

• Food shortages in Petrograd created desperate conditions for ordinary people
• Bread rationing announcements caused panic and anger among the population
• International Women's Day march provided a focal point for mass demonstrations
• The Tsar's absence from Petrograd meant no strong leadership during the crisis
• Contempt for the Tsarina meant people rejected her authority
• Military mutiny removed the government's main tool for maintaining order
• Unusually mild winter weather made it easier for large crowds to gather and demonstrate in the streets
• Demonstrations supporting the Duma showed that people wanted alternative leadership

Each of these triggers was serious on its own, but together they created conditions where revolution became inevitable.

Timeline of key events

14 February: Demonstration held in support of the Duma
18 February: Strike begins at Putilov Steelworks in Petrograd
Late February: Unusually warm weather encourages people to join street protests
22 February: Nicholas II leaves Petrograd for army headquarters 780 km away
23 February: International Women's Day march; crowds grow larger after bread rationing announcement
23-25 February: 250,000 people demonstrate in Petrograd
25 February: Nicholas orders unrest to be suppressed from his distant headquarters
26 February: 40 people killed when soldiers fire on demonstrators
27 February: Some army regiments refuse to obey shooting orders
28 February: Military report declares Petrograd out of control