Essay

1   Weakness of Russia
Underlay everything (see weaknesses 1–7)

2   World War I
The First World War   was the key factor.  
The army was badly led and poorly equipped.   Russian defeats at Tannenberg and Masurian Lakes – the Russians lost 200,000 men – lost the government the support of the army.  
The war took 15 million men from the farms and trains had to be used for the war (so they could not bring food to the cities) so there were food shortages and food prices rose, all of which created anger and unrest in Petrograd
The winter of 1916–17 was severe.   Food shortages got worse – there was a famine in the cities.

3   Tsar’s Mistakes
The Tsar took personal command of the army   – which did not help the war effort and meant he was blamed for the defeats.  
He left the Tsarina in charge.   She was incompetent (she let Rasputin run the government), and (because she was a German) rumours circulated that she was trying to help Germany to win.
By February 1917 the government was in chaos.
Finally, in the crisis, Nicholas went to pieces and failed to do anything (see Source A).

4   Army abandoned the Tsar
On 8 March 1917, there were riots in Petrograd about the food shortages and the war.
On 12 March the Army abandoned the Tsar – the soldiers mutinied and refused to put down the riots.   The government lost control of the country.

5   Duma abandoned the Tsar
On 13 March members of the Duma went to Nicholas to tell him to abdicate.  
   
 
Source A
On 12 March 1917 Rodzianko, the President of the Duma, telegraphed the Tsar:
The situation is getting worse.   Something has to be done immediately.   Tomorrow is too late.   The last hour has struck.   The future of the country and the royal family is being decided.  
 
The Tsar read it and said:
Again, that fat-bellied Rodzianko has written me a load of nonsense, which I won’t even bother to answer.
 
On 13 March the Duma forced Nicholas to abdicate.    
   
 
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