Build up to the February Revolution

• What was the name given to the political turmoil under Tsarina Alexandra?

  'Ministerial Leapfrog'
• How long did Ministerial Leapfrog last for?

  18 months
• How many ministers were there under Ministerial Leapfrog?

  4 Prime Ministers, 5 Ministers of the Interior, 3 Foreign Ministers, 3 War Ministers, 3 Transport Ministers
• What is an example of an incompetent minister?

  War minister Sukhomlonov was lazy and corrupt but kept in office due to Rasputin supporting him
• What voluntary action group was set up in 1915?

  The War Industries Committees
• What was the War Industries Committees set up as a response to?

  The munitions crisis and due to most contracts going to Petrograd businesses not Moscow
• How many regional and local committees made up the War Industries Committees?

  32 regional and 220 local committees
• What was the banner of the War Industries Committees?


  'All for the War'
• What was the aim of the War Industries Committees?

  To end the munition crisis and mobilise Russia's industrial resources for the war effectively
• What was the Zemgor formed by?

  The Zemstvo union and the Union of towns
• Who was the head of the Zemstvo Union?

  Prince Lvov
• How many people were employed by the Zemgor?

  55,000
• What percentage of all war time goods did Zemgor produce?

  5%
• How many hospitals did the Zemgor establish?

  More than 3000
• What did the Zemgor do?

  .Provide welfare relief for families of conscripted men, war orphans and refugees

  .Provided an ambulance service on the front lines

  .Fed, clothed and registered tens of thousands of refugees
• When was the Duma recalled?

  July 1915
• How many members made up the Progressive Bloc?

  300 members
• What did the Progressive Bloc demand?

  That the Tsar change his ministers and essentially establish a constitutional monarchy
• What did the Kadets do as a result of Nicholas' handling of the Duma?

  Abandoned the idea of compromise and turned to aggression
• What were leading members of the Progressive Bloc wanting?

  Plotting to force the Tsar to abdicate by late 1916
• How many workers were on strike initially?

  100,000 workers from 58 different factories on strike in Petrograd by 14th February 1917
• When would bread be rationed by?

  1 March 1917
• What happened on the 22nd February?

  20,000 workers were locked out of the Putilov Iron works after the pay talks collapsed
• What did the 22nd February start?

  The 5 days of loss of control
• How many workers were on strike on 23rd February?

  90,000 workers on strike with 50 factories closed
• How many were on the streets on the 23rd February?

  Roughly 240,000
• How many workers were on strike by the 24th February?

  200,000 workers on strike
• What did strikers do on the 24th February?

  Crowds overturned Tsarist statues, waved red flags, wore red rosettes
• How many workers were on strike by 25th February?

  250,000 with almost all major factories and most shops closed
• How many demonstrators were killed on 27th February?

  40-50 demonstrators in the city centre
• How many soldiers left their garrisons?

  66,000 soldiers mutinied and joined protestors arming them with 40,000 rifles
• When did the Tsar attempt to return to Petrograd?

  28th February
• When did the Tsar abdicate?

  2nd March
• When did the Tsar learn that the army high command had overridden his instructions?

  At Pskov, 150 miles outside of Petrograd
• Who did Nicholas abdicate the throne to?

  His brother, Grand Prince Michael