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Duma Reconvenes
One-hundred thousand people began protesting in Petrograd over food shortages and inflation. Duma, a council assembled by the tsar, reconvened and attacked the government over the situation in the city, blaming them for the protests and food shortages. Russian Duma -
Bread Rationing Announced
Authorities in Petrograd announced that starting March 1, bread would be rationed. This caused a buying frenzy in an effort to stock up on an already short supply of food. The announcement of the rationing of an already meager supply of bread also pushed Russia's working class even closer to the edge. http://www.voyagesphotosmanu.com/february_revolution.html -
Putilov Iron Works Closes Its Doors/National Women's Day
On International Women's Day, the owner of Putilov Iron Works locked out its employees after a wage dispute causing workers to protest in the streets of the Russian capital, Petrograd. The protest was made up mainly of female textile workers along with Bolshevik Party-led metal workers. p://artandopinion.tumblr.com/post/5598656207/speech-by-lenin-at-a-rally-of-workers-1929-isaak -
Strikes Spread Throughout the City
The protests from International Women's Day spread among the workers of Petrograd and the group of protesters grew to 100,000 men and women, clashing with police and refusing to leave the streets. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Feb_1917.jpg -
Protests Grow Larger and More Violent
The strike in Petrograd had now gathered an estimated 200,000 protesters. Violence was increasing and instead of demanding bread, the protesters now condemned the tsar. Trotsky wrote, "The slogan "Bread!" is crowded out or obscured by louder slogans: 'Down with the autocracy,' 'Down with the war!'" http://mrbpielglobal.edublogs.org/2012/02/01/comparisons-between-the-russian-revolution-of-1917-and-the-2011-egyptian-revolution/comment-page-1/ -
Members of Worker's Group Arrested
All free members of the Worker's Group were arrested and Petrograd's army had begun fighting police to protect the protesters. Now, not only were the working classes revolting, but also the public servants who were supposed to be under control of the tsar and breaking up the protests had now switched sides. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_of_Russian_Workers -
Army Is Called In To Stop Protests
On February 26th the army was called in to stop the protests. Some even opened fire and killed protesters. This didn't stop the protests as the Russian working class kept to the streets and the troops began to switch their support over to the side of the protesters. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Revolution -
Duma Ordered To Disband
Nicholas II ordered the Duma to disband. They refused and continued to meet to discuss what should be done about the protests. http://images.google.com/hosted/life/16eaa68e7efc01eb.html -
Petrograd Army Mutinies
The Petrograd army fully joined the protesters and began arming them by seizing arsenals. http://themoscownews.com/feature/20120220/189471658.html -
Provisional Government Is Recognized
The Duma and Soviet meet to discuss whether the Soviet would agree to a provisional government. They agree and the new provisional government is recognized by British and French governments. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/eastern_front_01.shtml -
Imperial Government Falls
Czar Nicholas II abdicated himself and his son from the throne, in favor of his brother who was more popular among the working classes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TzarNicholasAmongTroops.jpeg -
New Heir Rejects Throne
Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch, Tsar Nicholas II's brother, rejected the throne until a Constitutional Assembly was formed to formally invite him, leaving the government in the hands of the provisional government. http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ImperialRussian/videos/michael.html
