The Russian Revolution
What is commonly referred to as the Russian Revolution in 1917 was actually two revolutions: one in February followed by another in October. The one depicted in The Last Days of the Romanov Dancers is the February revolution.
There were a number of factors which contributed to the revolution. An earlier revolution in 1905 resulted in the creation of a Duma, a parliament which was supposed to consider the interests of the factory workers and peasants. This wasn't delivered on - at least not in the way many people had thought it would be, and the gap between rich and poor began to cause more unrest and enmity.
The Tsar's war with Germany, commenced in 1914, was unpopular with the public. There were not enough supplies for the troops and the harsh winters worsened this problem while exacerbating food shortages throughout Russia. The Tsarina, who was left to rule in place of the Tsar when he went to the front, became increasingly unpopular, as did her association with Rasputin and the amount of power she gave him.
The February revolution began with a workers strike at the Putilov Mill in Petrograd. Over the next few days strikes and demonstrations worsened and the streets became chaos. Demands shifted from wanting the Tsar to come back from the front, to wanting him to abdicate. Soldiers deserted; prisons were broken into and emptied of people; the Cossacks, brought in to get the revolting masses under control, turned sides.
By the time the Tsar returned to Petrograd, it was too late. He was forced to abdicate for both himself and his son, leaving the throne to his brother, who declined it. A provisional government was announced, and the Romanov family was put under house arrest. A year later they would be murdered.
There were a number of factors which contributed to the revolution. An earlier revolution in 1905 resulted in the creation of a Duma, a parliament which was supposed to consider the interests of the factory workers and peasants. This wasn't delivered on - at least not in the way many people had thought it would be, and the gap between rich and poor began to cause more unrest and enmity.
The Tsar's war with Germany, commenced in 1914, was unpopular with the public. There were not enough supplies for the troops and the harsh winters worsened this problem while exacerbating food shortages throughout Russia. The Tsarina, who was left to rule in place of the Tsar when he went to the front, became increasingly unpopular, as did her association with Rasputin and the amount of power she gave him.
The February revolution began with a workers strike at the Putilov Mill in Petrograd. Over the next few days strikes and demonstrations worsened and the streets became chaos. Demands shifted from wanting the Tsar to come back from the front, to wanting him to abdicate. Soldiers deserted; prisons were broken into and emptied of people; the Cossacks, brought in to get the revolting masses under control, turned sides.
By the time the Tsar returned to Petrograd, it was too late. He was forced to abdicate for both himself and his son, leaving the throne to his brother, who declined it. A provisional government was announced, and the Romanov family was put under house arrest. A year later they would be murdered.