Russian Revolution (1917)ALEXANDRA FEODOROVNA
Czarina Alexandra was born into German. Most Russians hated Germans, especially after WWI broke out, which pitted the two against each other. Russians were always afraid that Alix would turn against them in the war. She was also generally blamed for leading her husband astray when it came time for making decisions and was criticized for supposed (and non existent) affairs with her adviser, Grigory Rasputin. These matters were worsened by her inability to produce a male heir early on. WOMEN'S STRIKE
The bread riot in Petrograd (the instigator of the February revolution) began as a strike but grew into a massive demonstration. On February 23, International Women's Day, disillusioned female factory textile workers flooded the streets demanding not only an end to domestic problems, like the enduring food shortages and poor working conditions, but also an end in involvement with World War I. Soon, over a hundred of thousand women joined them, the riot lasting several days. What started as a demonstration transformed into revolution on the 26th when Czar Nicholas II ordered his troops to fire on unarmed protestors. Only days after that, the Petrograd garrison joined the strike leading to the Czar's resignation. |
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French Revolution (1789)MARIE ANTOINETTE
Marie was born in Austria, daughter of Maria Theresa. Her non-French roots led to the French hating her. They blamed her nationality for her stupid decisions. Vicious rumors about her promiscuity flew around court, specifically due to the fact that for the first few years of her marriage, she and her husband were unable to conceive. Though modern historians attribute this fault to Louis, at the time Marie was the one blamed for any problems the royal family had. WOMEN'S MARCH ON VERSAILLES
Similarly, the infamous march on Versailles was a response to a mass city-wide hunger. On October 5, a large crowd composed mainly of women gathered around the Hôtel de Ville (town hall) demanding that the city of Paris release its bread stores. As the crowd increased in size and passion, they elected to march to King Louis XVI's palace at Versailles. Though the king made hasty assurances and even offered to distribute Paris's food supply to the rioters, several members of the mob snuck into the palace with the intent of murdering Marie Antoinette. Scared, Louis greeted the protesters from the balcony and promised to return to Paris with his family to personally deal with food shortages. This was another step in the path that would lead to revolution and his execution. |
Photos used under Creative Commons from klimbims, Eugenio Hansen, OFS