February Revolution of 1917 summary. Abstract February Revolution
Prerequisites and nature of the February Revolution
The prerequisites for the February Revolution were the incompleteness of the first revolution of 1905-1907, during which the tasks of democratizing society and convening the Constituent Assembly were not finally resolved, which caused discontent among liberals. The basic demand of the workers - the introduction of an 8-hour working day - was not satisfied. Despite the reforms of P. Stolypin, the agrarian question was not finally resolved, which became the reason for the discontent of the peasants. The lack of political rights and freedoms has intensified the illegal activities of opposition parties. With the exception of small concessions made by the Manifesto of October 17, 1905, democratic transformations in Russia remained unfinished, which means that what caused the first revolution had to appear again. New social upheavals were inevitable.
It is characteristic that even those who were involved in the events of the revolution explained the reasons for the revolution differently. Monarchists believed that the revolution was the result of a Masonic conspiracy between liberals and the bourgeoisie. The Octobrists and Cadets saw their origins in the failure of all attempts at compromise with the government, believing that the revolution was a popular, democratic and national one. The Bolsheviks believed that the revolution began because the government “could no longer” carry out reforms, and the lower classes no longer “wanted” government reforms. The February bourgeois revolution for them was only the first step towards the socialist revolution.
Social tension was facilitated by Russia's entry into the First World War), failures at the front, the death of millions of soldiers, deterioration of living conditions. The political crisis on the eve of the war worsened even more. The activities of G. Rasputin, the short-sighted policy of the government, the frequent change of ministers, the radicalization of cadets and monarchists ( they killed Rasputin), the emergence in the IV State Duma in 1915 of the Cadet-Octobrist “Progressive Bloc”, which demanded “to create a government that enjoys the country’s trust” - these factors became decisive at the beginning of the revolution.
Progress of the February Revolution
At the beginning of 1917, the situation in the country sharply worsened. The level of the strike movement reached unprecedented heights. A critical situation developed in Petrograd, where, due to a failure in food supplies to the city on February 23, discontent grew into spontaneous rallies, demonstrations and strikes. More than 120 thousand workers went on strike. The Bolsheviks, Mensheviks and other socialist parties called for revolution and the overthrow of the monarchy. On February 25, the protests grew into a general political strike, involving 305 thousand people. February 26 was a decisive day for the revolution. If the troops had not used weapons before, then on February 6, 1917, a large demonstration on Nevsky Prospect was shot, and mass arrests took place. The shooting of the demonstration caused mutinies in the army. The Pavlovsk regiment refused to move against the demonstrators. On February 27, 1917, an armed uprising began in Petrograd. And "the revolutionary masses were joined by about 70 thousand soldiers of the reserve battalions of the Volyn, Preobrazhensky, Lithuanian, Moscow reserve regiments. During the day, the rebels captured train stations, bridges, and the main arsenal. The building of the District Court and the House of Pre-trial Detention were stormed. Together with the revolutionaries, liberated 4 thousand criminals were also released from prisons and police stations. The Tsar was at the Russian Army Headquarters at that time.
The Chairman of the IV State Duma, M. Rodzianko, telegraphed Nicholas II on February 26 about the mortal danger hanging over Russia and the need to immediately create a new government that would enjoy the country’s confidence. The king did not answer. The next day, on behalf of the Provisional Committee of the State Duma, an appeal was issued to the population, which stated that this new government body had taken into its own hands the restoration of state and public order. On the evening of February 27, Nicholas II sent a special detachment (more than 800 people) to the capital under the command of General N. Ivanov to suppress the “unrest” in the capital; he, however, did not dare to use force before the emperor’s arrival. From Headquarters, Nicholas II headed to Tsarskoe Selo, but important news stopped him in Pskov. On March 2, Nicholas II signed documents suspending Ivanov’s punitive expedition. Here he learned from Rodzianko that the Provisional Committee of the State Duma had already appointed its commissars to the ministries and demanded abdication in favor of the emperor’s son.
At the same time, the Petrograd Council of Workers' Deputies and its Temporary Executive Committee began work in Petrograd, which included 6 Mensheviks, 2 Socialist Revolutionaries, 2 Bolsheviks and 5 Social Democrats. The Menshevik N. Chkheidze was elected Chairman of the Council, the Trudovik A. Kerensky and the Menshevik M. Skobelev were his deputies. At the meeting, a decision was made to create the Military and Food Commissions, to take under the protection of train stations, state banks, bridges and the most important government institutions. On March 1, the Council issued the famous “Order No. 1” for the army, according to which many important functions of power were transferred from officers to elected soldier committees, soldiers were granted all civil rights, etc. On March 1, 1917, the Petrograd Council of Workers' Deputies was transformed into the Petrograd Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. In total, in March 1917, more than 500 Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies arose in Russia, which played an important role in the fight against the Provisional Committee and the tsarist administrative apparatus.
On March 2, 1917, General Ruzsky informed Nicholas II of the demand of the Provisional Committee to resolve the issue of abdication. As a result, the tsar wrote a telegram addressed to Rodzianko about abdication in favor of his son, but sending the telegram was delayed. After a conversation with representatives of the Provisional Committee of the State Duma A. Guchkov and V. Shulgin, who arrived in Pskov, on the night of March 2-3, 1917, Nicholas II signed a Manifesto on his abdication and the abdication of his son Alexei from the throne in favor of his brother Mikhail Alexandrovich. On March 2, after negotiations between the Petrograd Soviet and the Duma, a bourgeois Provisional Government was created. The Provisional Committee of the Duma insisted on preserving the monarchy, but after receiving the Tsar's Manifesto in favor of Mikhail and not Alexei, the majority of members of the Provisional Committee changed their minds and began to lean toward the idea that it was impossible to preserve the monarchy. Mikhail Romanov, having learned from Duma representatives that his life was in danger, signed an act of abdication (March 4, 1917). It said that Michael agreed to accept the crown only if such was the decision of the Constituent Assembly, convened on the basis of general elections.
On March 3, 1917, a declaration was published on the composition and program of the Provisional Government, which included Prince G. Lvov, P. Milyukov, A. Guchkov, A. Konovalov, M. Tereshchenko, A. Kerensky. From that time on, power actually passed to the Provisional Government; real power was in the hands of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. Dual power was established in the country.
The February Revolution was bourgeois-democratic in nature and had sad consequences for Russia. We’ll figure out which ones exactly in this article.
Causes of the revolution
The First World War became a litmus test for the unresolved problems of Russian society. By 1917, various political meetings, as well as anti-monarchist and anti-war protests, became more frequent in the country.
At the front there was a crisis in the army, which included 13 million peasants. On the front line, cases of fraternization with enemy soldiers and desertion were observed. Revolutionary sentiments grew among the mass of soldiers.
The loss of many European territories created a threat of famine in large cities in the Russian Empire due to disruptions in food supplies and the orientation of industry towards war.
There were no strong personalities around Nicholas who could solve the accumulated problems, and the tsar’s authority before the people fell lower and lower every day.
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Results of the February Revolution
The historical significance of the Second Russian Revolution is to provide Russia with the opportunity to follow a democratic path of development. The main result of the February Revolution of 1917 was the abdication of Nicholas II and the coming to power of the bourgeois-democratic Provisional Government chaired by G.E. Lvov.
Another result of the February Revolution was the proclamation of broad political rights and freedoms. The Provisional Government almost instantly abolished national, class and religious restrictions, military courts were abolished at the front and the death penalty was abolished, and an eight-hour working day was declared on Russian territory. Russia was proclaimed a republic.
Rice. 1. Meeting of the Provisional Government.
After the overthrow of the monarchy, the new government granted amnesty to all political prisoners. Many revolutionaries and socialists, who used, among other things, illegal methods of struggle against the tsarist government, received freedom.
The proletariat was given the opportunity to once again create democratic labor organizations, which were prohibited during the war. Trade unions and factory committees began to appear in the country.
Having become an ordinary citizen of Russia, Nicholas II asked permission from the Provisional Government to leave Petrograd and move to Murmansk with his family in order to emigrate to Great Britain from there, however, the temporary workers decided to play it safe and took the former emperor under arrest and ordered him to stay in Tsarskoe Selo.
Rice. 2. Portrait of Nicholas II.
While solving many socio-economic issues, the Provisional Government left the solution of political problems to the post-war period. As a result, dual power was formed in Russia, splitting Russian society into two opposing camps - monarchists and their opponents.
The Provisional Government's promise to resolve major social issues at the end of the war was left unresolved, including the land issue.
The February Revolution did not give Russia a solution to pressing socio-political problems, which gave rise to an even greater economic and political crisis.
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- revolutionary events that took place in Russia in early March (according to the Julian calendar - at the end of February - beginning of March) 1917 and led to the overthrow of the autocracy. In Soviet historical science it was characterized as “bourgeois”.
Its objectives were to introduce a constitution, establish a democratic republic (the possibility of maintaining a constitutional parliamentary monarchy was not excluded), political freedoms, and resolve land, labor and national issues.
The revolution was led to a significant deterioration in the socio-economic situation of the Russian Empire due to the protracted First World War, economic devastation, and the food crisis. It became increasingly difficult for the state to maintain the army and provide food to the cities; dissatisfaction with the military hardships grew among the population and among the troops. At the front, left-wing party agitators were successful, calling on soldiers to disobey and revolt.
The liberal-minded public was outraged by what was happening at the top, criticizing the unpopular government, the frequent change of governors and ignoring the State Duma, whose members demanded reforms and, in particular, the creation of a government responsible not to the Tsar, but to the Duma.
The aggravation of the needs and misfortunes of the masses, the growth of anti-war sentiment and general dissatisfaction with the autocracy led to mass protests against the government and the dynasty in large cities and primarily in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg).
At the beginning of March 1917, due to transport difficulties in the capital, supplies deteriorated, food cards were introduced, and the Putilov plant temporarily suspended work. As a result, 36 thousand workers lost their livelihood. Strikes in solidarity with the Putilovites took place in all districts of Petrograd.
On March 8 (February 23, old style), 1917, tens of thousands of workers took to the streets of the city, carrying slogans of “Bread!” and “Down with autocracy!” Two days later, the strike had already covered half of the workers in Petrograd. Armed squads were formed at the factories.
On March 10-11 (February 25-26, old style), the first clashes between strikers and the police and gendarmerie took place. Attempts to disperse the protesters with the help of troops were unsuccessful, but only escalated the situation, since the commander of the Petrograd Military District, fulfilling the order of Emperor Nicholas II to “restore order in the capital,” ordered the troops to shoot at the demonstrators. Hundreds of people were killed or injured, and many were arrested.
On March 12 (February 27, old style), the general strike escalated into an armed uprising. A massive transfer of troops to the side of the rebels began.
The military command tried to bring new units to Petrograd, but the soldiers did not want to participate in the punitive operation. One military unit after another took the side of the rebels. Revolutionary-minded soldiers, having seized an armory, helped detachments of workers and students arm themselves.
The rebels occupied the most important points of the city, government buildings, and arrested the tsarist government. They also destroyed police stations, seized prisons, and released prisoners, including criminals. Petrograd was overwhelmed by a wave of robberies, murders and robbery.
The center of the uprising was the Tauride Palace, where the State Duma previously met. On March 12 (February 27, old style), the Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies was formed here, the majority of which were Mensheviks and Trudoviks. The first thing the Council took up was solving the problems of defense and food supply.
At the same time, in the adjacent hall of the Tauride Palace, the Duma leaders, who refused to obey the decree of Nicholas II on the dissolution of the State Duma, formed the “Provisional Committee of Members of the State Duma,” which declared itself the bearer of supreme power in the country. The committee was headed by Duma Chairman Mikhail Rodzianko, and the body included representatives of all Duma parties, with the exception of the far right. The committee members created a broad political program for the transformations necessary for Russia. Their first priority was to restore order, especially among the soldiers.
On March 13 (February 28, old style), the Provisional Committee appointed General Lavr Kornilov to the post of commander of the troops of the Petrograd District and sent its commissioners to the Senate and ministries. He began to perform the functions of the government and sent deputies Alexander Guchkov and Vasily Shulgin to Headquarters for negotiations with Nicholas II on the abdication of the throne, which took place on March 15 (March 2, old style).
On the same day, as a result of negotiations between the Provisional Committee of the Duma and the executive committee of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, a Provisional Government was created, headed by Prince Georgy Lvov, which took full power into its own hands. The only representative of the Soviets who received a ministerial post was the Trudovik Alexander Kerensky.
On March 14 (March 1, old style), a new government was established in Moscow, and throughout March throughout the country. But in Petrograd and locally, the Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies and the Soviets of Peasants' Deputies gained great influence.
The coming to power simultaneously of the Provisional Government and the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies created a situation of dual power in the country. A new stage of the struggle for power between them began, which, together with the inconsistent policies of the Provisional Government, created the preconditions for the October Revolution of 1917.
The material was prepared based on information from open sources
The consequences of the February Revolution are still actively discussed by historians and researchers of that period. It was which began with mass anti-government protests by workers, who were supported by soldiers of the Petrograd garrison. All this led to the actual overthrow of the absolute monarchy in the country and the creation of a Provisional Government, which concentrated the executive and legislative powers in its hands. The revolution itself began at the end of February and continued until the beginning of March.
Causes
When assessing the consequences of the February Revolution, we must first understand its causes. Most modern historians come to the unequivocal conclusion that it was inevitable, since dissatisfaction with the government and the king was caused by a large number of factors.
Among them were defeats on the fronts of the First World War, the difficult situation in which peasants and workers found themselves, devastation and hunger in the country, political lawlessness, the authority of the autocratic government by that time had greatly decreased, society had long demanded radical reforms, which the authorities did not want to carry out.
It turned out that almost all the problems that Russia faced during the 1905 revolution remained unresolved. years should have radically changed the lives of the people, but this never happened.
Rasputin's position at court
Having examined the causes, course, and consequences of the February Revolution, one can fully appreciate the social upheavals that occurred at that time. Great dissatisfaction was caused by the position that Grigory Rasputin had occupied at court by that time. The highest authorities were actually discredited by the scandals surrounding the figure of this elder.
Rumors circulated in the capital about treason in the circles of the emperor. Public opinion considered the wife of the head of state, Alexandra Fedorovna, a traitor; there was even talk about the empress’s intimate relationship with Rasputin. Most of them were fantastic in nature and were never confirmed, but had a strong influence on public opinion.
Bread riots
From this article you can learn in detail about the February Revolution, its prerequisites, results and consequences. The so-called bread riots are considered to be the actual beginning of the unrest, which culminated in outright anti-government protests.
They began in Petrograd, becoming a logical conclusion with transport and grain supplies.
At the end of 1916, surplus appropriation was introduced, which was aimed at carrying out food procurements during the period of economic and military crises. First of all, we were talking about grain procurement. The principle of food appropriation was the forced delivery of grain products by grain producers at prices set by the state.
But even despite such coercive measures, instead of 772 million poods of bread that were planned to be received, only 170 million poods were produced. Because of this, the army reduced soldiers' rations from 3 to 2 pounds per day for those who fought at the front; those who remained in the front line received 1.5 pounds.
They were introduced in almost all major cities. At the same time, huge queues lined up for bread, but not everyone received it. Famine began in Vitebsk, Kostroma, and Polotsk.
There were no cards in Petrograd, but rumors that they were about to appear were actively circulating. The indignant people took active action on February 21, when pogroms began in Petrograd in dairy shops and bakeries. The crowd demanded bread.
Start
Historians have been trying to assess the causes and consequences of the February Revolution for over a century now. Many believe that one of the factors that led to the uprising was the departure of the king from the capital. On February 22, Nicholas II leaves for Mogilev, where the headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief was located.
Minister of Internal Affairs Protopopov, seeing him off, assures that the situation is under his complete control. And Protopopov was really sure of this, because at the end of January he managed to arrest the workers who were preparing a mass demonstration on the opening day of the new session of the State Duma.
The actual beginning of the revolution is considered to be February 23. Anti-war rallies in the capitals are developing into demonstrations and mass strikes. The work of several large industrial enterprises was stopped. In the center of Petrograd, demonstrators come into direct conflict with police and Cossacks.
On February 24, more than 200 thousand people are already participating in the general strike. On February 26, a demonstration begins on Nevsky Prospekt. On Znamenskaya Square, the police open fire on demonstrators, about 40 people are killed. They are also shooting in other parts of the city. The number of strike participants exceeds 300 thousand people.
Armed uprising
The turning point occurred on February 27, when soldiers began to defect en masse to the side of the rebels. The team of the reserve battalion of the Volyn Regiment was the first to participate in the riot. The commanders killed the soldiers, released everyone who was in the guardhouse, and began calling on neighboring units to join the uprising. The officers were either killed or fled.
On the same day, soldiers in full armor went to Liteiny Prospekt, where they united with the striking workers of Petrograd factories.
And on the same day, members of the government gather for an emergency meeting at the Mariinsky Palace. It was decided to send a telegram to the emperor in Mogilev, in which it was indicated that the Council of Ministers was not able to cope with the situation in the country. At the same time, the government dismissed Protopopov, who caused particular irritation among the oppositionists. Meanwhile, the uprising spread beyond Petrograd.
On February 28, the Temporary Committee, organized under the State Duma, officially announced that it was taking power into its own hands. It was recognized by foreign governments, in particular France and Great Britain.
Emperor's abdication
Further, the chronology of events developed as follows. On March 2, a representative of the Provisional Committee, Guchkov and Shulgin, came to Nicholas II, telling him that they saw the only way out of the current situation in his abdication in favor of the young heir. Otherwise, unrest could begin among the troops who were at the front.
It was planned to appoint Grand Duke Mikhail as regent. The emperor stated that he had made such a decision in the afternoon, and now he was ready to renounce both for himself and for his son.
At 23.40, Nicholas II transmits the official act of abdication of the throne in favor of his brother Mikhail Alexandrovich. The latter fact aroused the indignation of the leaders of the revolution. His supporters also did not advise him to accept power, and in the end he did just that, refusing to accept supreme power.
The Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet decided to arrest the entire royal family, deprive them of civil rights and confiscate their property. On March 9, the emperor arrived in Tsarskoe Selo as Colonel Romanov.
The revolution takes over the whole country
From the capital, the revolution spreads throughout the country. On February 28, a strike begins at Moscow factories. The crowd reaches Butyrka prison, from which 350 political prisoners are released. The revolutionaries take control of the telegraph, post and telephone, train stations, weapons arsenals and the Kremlin. Gendarmes and policemen are arrested, and police units begin to be formed.
After Moscow, the revolution spreads throughout Russia. Revolutionary authorities will be formed by March 3 in Nizhny Novgorod, Vologda, and Saratov. In Samara, a crowd storms the governor's prison. When the news of the emperor's abdication reaches Kyiv, the formation of new authorities immediately begins there. But if in most cities dual power arises - the fight is waged by radical Soviets and the liberal Executive Committee, then in Kyiv a nationalist Central Rada also appears.
Formation of the Provisional Government
The main consequence of the February Revolution was the formation of the Provisional Government. It is headed by Prince Lvov, who remains in this post until July 1917, when he is replaced by Kerensky.
The provisional government immediately announced that its main goal would be the transfer of power to the Constituent Assembly, elections to which are scheduled for September 17, but are then postponed to November.
At the same time, the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies enjoys serious influence. As a result, the Provisional Government is trying to follow the path of parliamentarism, striving to make Russia a modern liberal and capitalist power on the Western model. The Petrograd Soviet stands for the revolutionary power of the working masses.
The main symbols of this revolution are red banners and bows. The fourth convocation of the State Duma plays a huge role in it, but then it quickly loses influence.
During the revolutionary events themselves, the role of Deputy Kerensky, who is also a member of the Provisional Government, grows significantly. The results and consequences of the February Revolution are still assessed and discussed by many. One of the main decisions in the early days was the demand for the abolition of the death penalty and the provision of equal rights to all citizens, regardless of their gender, nationality and religion. Discriminatory restrictions are being abolished, in particular with regard to Jews; previously they were restrained by the so-called Pale of Settlement; Jews could not live in the capitals and large cities of the empire.
All citizens, without exception, received the right to freely assemble, join any unions and associations, and trade unions actually began to work in the country.
Another important consequence of the February Revolution was that the tsarist police, as well as the gendarmerie, were dissolved, their functions were transferred to the people's militia, which began to be called the militia. The Provisional Government also formed an Extraordinary Commission of Inquiry, which began investigating crimes committed by senior officials and tsarist ministers.
The provisional government actually began to consider itself a full-fledged successor to the monarchical state, seeking to preserve the previously existing state apparatus.
Government crises
At the same time, the results and consequences of the February Revolution include the fact that the Provisional Government was unable to cope with the situation in the country. The consequence of this was government crises that began as early as May 3.
As a result, the government became a coalition.
At the same time, a serious blow was dealt to the army, this was another consequence of the February Revolution in Russia. During the mass purge of command personnel, officers who were close to the Duma opposition were appointed to key positions. The most prominent figures were Kolchak, Kornilov, Denikin.
Fear of dictatorship
Speaking briefly about the consequences of the February Revolution, it should be noted that the fear of a military dictatorship became all-encompassing. That is why Kerensky was in a hurry to consolidate the successes that had been achieved, without waiting for the decisions of the Constituent Assembly.
The consequences of the February and October revolutions in Russia were decisive for the fate of the entire country in the 20th century. She said goodbye to the monarchy and took a fundamentally different path.
February Revolution Reasons and reasons for the revolution
The causes of the revolution were the whole mass of problems facing Russian society, which were actually not resolved after the First Russian Revolution and significantly worsened during the First World War (agrarian, labor and national issues, the preservation of the class and autocratic system, the decline in the authority of the authorities, which even lost the support Duma and nobility, the economic crisis and associated social deprivations, dissatisfaction with the continuation of an unsuccessful war, the rapid growth of a mass movement, etc.).
Three reasons for the February Revolution:
- shortages of bread in Petrograd that began in the second half of February 1917 (due to transport difficulties and rumors of a sharp worsening of the food crisis, which led to a significant increase in demand for bread);
- the workers' strike at the Putilov plant in Petrograd, which began on February 18, 1917, demanding higher wages;
- February 23, 1917 - spontaneous demonstrations of women workers dedicated to International Women's Day, demanding a solution to food problems, an end to the war and the return of their husbands from the front.
Main events of the February Revolution
- February 23-26, 1917 - a strike at the Putilov plant and a women’s demonstration escalated into citywide strikes and clashes with the police, army and Cossacks (red flags and slogans “Down with the Tsar!” and “Down with the War!” appeared at the demonstrations, as a result of the clashes people are dying). Nicholas II, who was at the high command headquarters in Mogilev at that time, gave the order to stop the unrest in the capital.
- February 27, 1917 - a turning point in the revolution:
- armed uprising in Petrograd: several government regiments killed their officers at night and went over to the side of the rebels, after which during the day the rebels throughout the city freed prisoners from prisons, seized weapons, occupied the Tauride Palace, where the State Duma met, and arrested the tsarist government;
- the emergence in the Tauride Palace of two bodies of new power: the Provisional Committee of the State Duma (from representatives of the “Progressive Bloc”, headed by the Octobrist M.V. Rodzianko) and the Petrograd Council of Workers’ Deputies (created on the model of the Soviets of 1905, headed by the Menshevik N. . S. Chkheidze). Advice
relied on mass support and real military force in the person of the Petrograd garrison 1. However, the Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries who dominated it believed that they should not take power, since the revolution was bourgeois in nature and bourgeois parties should rule, while the task of the socialists was to control them.
On the night of March 1 to 2, the creation of the Provisional Government headed by G. E. Lvov (by agreement between the Provisional Committee of the State Duma and the Petrograd Soviet). Leading positions in the government were occupied by representatives of liberal parties - P. N. Milyukov, A. I. Guchkov, M. V. Rodzianko and others, the only socialist was the Minister of Justice, Socialist Revolutionary A. F. Kerensky. A dual power immediately arose between the Provisional Government (“power without force”, since it had no authority and trust in society) and the Petrograd Soviet (“force without power”, since it had broad social support of workers, soldiers, peasants, and relied on the Petrograd garrison );
Abolition of the monarchy: on the evening of March 2, Nicholas II, under pressure from the high military command, signed a Manifesto abdicating the throne in favor of his younger brother Mikhail, but on March 3, Mikhail abdicated in favor of the Constituent Assembly (the issue of the future form of government was to be decided at the Constituent Assembly).