Causes of the February Revolution

Causes of the February Revolution

• Most Significant - Impact of the First World War
• Series of defeats and increasing death toll
• Focus on army meant there were more food shortages and lack of equipment
• Reflected badly on Tsar Nicholas II as he'd taken personal command of the army in September 1915
• People felt betrayed and angry at government.
• Soldiers weren't loyal to the Tsar, mutinies = Tsar losing status and control. Russians wanted to change government. (Defections in the armed government and incompetence of Nicholas II too)
• Took personal control of the army despite no military training (Incompetence of Nicholas II)
• Rasputin began to run the government when Nicholas went to fight in frontline, anger amongst Russians built (Actions of Rasputin)
• Bread had to be rationed as it was going to the army. Farmers were leaving farmland to fight = food shortages (Social and economic problems)
• Defections in the Armed Forces
• Soldiers unloyal to Tsar
• Only 12,000 out of 180,000 members of the Imperial Guard could be relied upon
• Without troops, Tsar couldn't combat revolution so admitted defeat
• Incompetence of Nicholas II
• Reigning at a difficult time in Russia
• Came to throne young at 20, 'not prepared to be a Tsar'
• Indecisive, conservative and responsible for many problems in Russia
• Actions of Rasputin
• Allies and aristocrats envious of time he spent with Tsar
• Became influential, leader when Tsar was in frontline
• Russians and ruling class disliked him and his power

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• Social and Economic Problems
• Inflation 1914-1916, people became poorer
• Food shortages and rationing in 1917
• Appalling living and working conditions
• Strong division between rich and poor
• More agriculture than industry, shortages of consumer goods
• Anger amongst Russians, wanted to change the way Russia was governed