March+1917-+The+First+Revolution

=March 1917 Revolution- by naomi west=

=**Background**=

Russia was controlled by an autocratic government run by the Romanov family, in which the Tsar Nicholas II held all power. In 1904-05 discontent with the Tsar began after Russia had suffered a great defeat in a war with Japan. The Tsar had expected a great and quick victory but was left with a destroyed navy. The government was seen as weak and incompetent to the humiliated Russia. It wasn't long until food prices rose and people struggled to stay in good conditions because of high unemployment rates.

On a cold afternoon in winter of 1905 a small army of unarmed workers marched to the Tsar's palace pleading for better living and working conditions. Support was growing amongst these workers for a revolution to occur. The Tsar had no intention of aiding these people and so he set forth his soldiers to open fire on the crowd that gathered in order to disperse them. This event became known as Bloody Sunday because of the mass strikes and riots that ensued.

The Tsar established what was known as the Duma when he released his October Manifesto. As a way to please the people the D uma was supposed to be a way to form political parties as well as allow freedom of speech. It wasn't soon after that the Tsar had broken his promises and the Duma now had little influence. = = =**Initial Outbreak**=

The Tsar's ways continued for another ten years until March of 1917. The military was weak after losing battles in 1914 and the only person that could be held responsible for this was the Tsar himself. Although the army was big, it was poorly equipped and when the Tsar had entered Russia into one of the biggest battles it would ever face, fatalities were unavoidable. When the Tsar left to visit his troops on the battlefield during WWI, he left his wife the Tsarina in charge of Russia. She was not only inexperienced, but an incompetent ruler as well. People were suffering great discontent during this time as there was widespread food shortages and prices were rising. Cities became overcrowded as the war caused people to move far from the countryside.

During an afternoon while women were waiting in a bread line up, they joined in with a group of 200,000 strikers in Petrograd demanding the overthrow of the Tsar. Although the Tsar was far from his palace, he had ordered his Cossacks (army) to attack and quell the protesters. Instead of following their order from the Tsar, the Cossacks joined in with their fellow protesters and a massive strike had broken out.

= = =**Nicholas II's Response**=

The Tsar was quite stubborn when it came to taking advice, and was known for ignoring his own created Duma. When word of the massive Petrograd outbreak reached the Tsar, he had no intentions of reacting. His strategy was simply to not reply. This was his downfall. =**Outcome**=

On March 14th, Moscow had fallen and the Tsar and his autocracy was doomed. He immediately abdicated and attempted to pass the throne of to his younger brother Michael. Michael knowing the situation Russia was in and the hate they expressed for the government rejected Nicholas's offer. This was the last Tsar Russia was to see. Him and his family were placed under house arrest before the brutal death in later years.

By: Naomi West