📍 Causes of the February Revolution

1. Military Failures in World War I

Russia's involvement in World War I was disastrous. The military suffered huge casualties—millions of soldiers
were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. Poor leadership, inadequate equipment, and outdated tactics led to
repeated defeats, especially against Germany.

The war drained national resources and demoralized both soldiers and civilians. The army’s losses not only
undermined confidence in the government but also led to widespread desertion, mutiny, and radicalization of
soldiers, many of whom later joined revolutionary movements.

2. Economic Collapse and Hardship

The war effort put enormous strain on the Russian economy. Factories were reoriented toward military
production, creating shortages in consumer goods. Inflation soared, making basic necessities unaffordable for
ordinary Russians.

Transport systems, particularly railways, were overwhelmed and poorly managed. Food and fuel could not reach
cities, leading to starvation and freezing conditions, especially during the bitter winter of 1916–1917. This
economic suffering pushed workers and peasants to revolt.

3. Food Shortages and Urban Discontent

One of the immediate triggers of the revolution was the severe food crisis in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg).
Bread queues grew longer, and riots broke out when bakeries ran out of supplies.

Urban workers, who had already faced long working hours and low wages, saw no improvement and instead
experienced worsening living standards. Strikes and protests became increasingly frequent and coordinated by
revolutionary groups.

4. Political Incompetence of Tsar Nicholas II

Nicholas II’s autocratic style of rule was increasingly out of touch with modern Russia. He refused meaningful
reforms, dissolved the Duma repeatedly, and resisted calls for a constitutional monarchy.

His decision to take personal command of the army in 1915 left the government in the hands of his wife, Tsarina
Alexandra, and Rasputin, whose influence and corruption further discredited the monarchy. The public viewed
Nicholas as weak and out of touch.

5. Loss of Legitimacy of the Romanov Dynasty

The Tsarist regime had already lost much of its support from key institutions, including the military, the
aristocracy, and the church. The scandal surrounding Rasputin, rumors of German sympathy from the Tsarina,
and constant government reshuffling caused mass disillusionment.

By early 1917, even many conservatives and monarchists had lost faith in Nicholas II. The once-sacrosanct image
of the Tsar was shattered, and calls for his abdication grew louder from all sides.
6. Rise of Revolutionary Sentiment
Revolutionary ideas had been spreading for decades, championed by groups like the Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, and
Socialist Revolutionaries. The worsening situation gave them a fertile ground to mobilize workers and soldiers.

Petrograd became a hub of political agitation. Soviets (councils) began to re-form, and slogans like “Peace, Land,
Bread” resonated with the masses. While the February Revolution itself was largely spontaneous, it was fueled by
years of ideological groundwork.
7. Weakness of the Russian Monarchy Over Time
The autocratic nature of the monarchy had been under strain for decades. The 1905 Revolution had already
exposed the fragility of the regime, leading to the creation of the Duma—but this was a half-measure.

Nicholas II repeatedly dissolved the Duma when it opposed his views, showing his refusal to share power. This
undermined reformist hopes and painted him as stubbornly autocratic, even when the country cried out for
change.

8. Influence of Revolutionary Ideologies

Socialist and Marxist ideas had been spreading across Russia since the late 19th century, especially among
students, workers, and intellectuals.

Exiled revolutionaries like Lenin and Trotsky had built strong networks of propaganda and organizing.
Underground newspapers, pamphlets, and speeches radicalized the population, especially during wartime
suffering.

9. Role of Women and International Women's Day Protest

The revolution began on International Women's Day (February 23, 1917, Julian calendar) when women textile
workers in Petrograd went on strike over food shortages and harsh conditions.

Their protest sparked a wave of strikes and demonstrations that rapidly escalated, showing that even groups
previously seen as politically passive were mobilized and angry.

10. Failure of the Police and Army to Suppress Protest

In previous uprisings, the Tsar had relied on the army to maintain control. But by 1917, soldiers were war-weary,
poorly treated, and increasingly sympathetic to protesters.

When ordered to fire on demonstrators, many soldiers mutinied or joined them. The defection of the military was
a turning point that made the fall of the Tsar inevitable.

11. Breakdown of Authority and State Structures

As strikes and protests engulfed Petrograd, the Tsarist government ceased to function effectively. Ministers were
paralyzed, and communication collapsed.

The lack of a clear plan for reform or control meant that revolution filled the vacuum. In just days, centuries of
imperial rule unraveled due to the total collapse of state authority.
Impacts of the February Revolution
1. Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II
The most immediate and historic impact was the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II on March 2, 1917, ending over
300 years of Romanov rule. This marked the collapse of the centuries-old autocracy and the end of imperial rule
in Russia.

Nicholas attempted to pass the throne to his brother, Grand Duke Michael, who refused, leaving Russia without a
monarch and without a clear leadership structure.

2. Establishment of the Provisional Government

Following the Tsar’s abdication, a Provisional Government was formed by liberal and moderate members of the
Duma. It aimed to stabilize the country, introduce democratic reforms, and continue the war effort until elections
could be held for a Constituent Assembly.

Although it represented a significant shift toward democracy, it lacked real authority and failed to solve key issues
like land reform, peace, and food distribution.

3. Rise of Dual Power (Provisional Government vs. Soviets)

The revolution led to a unique and unstable system known as "Dual Power"—the coexistence of the Provisional
Government and the Petrograd Soviet.

While the Provisional Government had formal authority, the Soviet had real influence over workers and soldiers.
This tension created a political deadlock and undermined the government's effectiveness from the start.

4. Continued Discontent and Radicalization

The Provisional Government's decision to continue the war was deeply unpopular. Conditions worsened, and
disillusionment grew among the masses.

Revolutionary parties, especially the Bolsheviks under Lenin, gained support by opposing the war and promising
radical change. Lenin’s return from exile in April 1917 intensified political polarization.

5. Empowerment of Workers and Soldiers

The February Revolution emboldened workers, peasants, and soldiers, who began forming their own councils
(soviets), unions, and committees to assert their rights.

Many soldiers deserted the front and took part in local uprisings. Peasants began seizing land, and workers
demanded greater control over factories. This grassroots activism laid the groundwork for the Bolsheviks’ later
seizure of power in October.

6. Prelude to the October Revolution

The February Revolution did not bring peace, land, or bread—only the illusion of change. The failure of the
Provisional Government to address the key demands of the people created the conditions for a second, more
radical revolution.
By October 1917, the Bolsheviks capitalized on this discontent and overthrew the Provisional Government, leading
to the establishment of a communist regime and the start of the Russian Civil War.

7. Emergence of Political Pluralism

The fall of the monarchy unleashed a wave of political freedom. Parties of all ideologies—liberal, socialist,
monarchist, anarchist—began to operate openly.

Newspapers flourished, public debates exploded, and political clubs multiplied. While this showed democratic
energy, it also created confusion, competition, and instability.

8. Release of Political Prisoners and Return of Exiles

Thousands of political prisoners, including many future revolutionaries, were freed after the February Revolution.

Exiles like Lenin, Trotsky, and other key figures returned to Russia. Their leadership would prove decisive in
pushing the revolution further toward radical transformation later in the year.

9. Land Seizures and Peasant Uprisings

Though the Provisional Government delayed land reform, peasants took matters into their own hands. They
began seizing estates, redistributing land, and attacking landlords.

This rural unrest spread rapidly and showed how little control the new government had in the countryside. The
Bolsheviks later used this to their advantage by promising "Land to the peasants."

10. Breakdown of Law and Order

With the collapse of the monarchy and no strong new regime in place, Russia descended into a state of near-
anarchy.

Armed gangs, peasant militias, and radicalized workers filled the power vacuum. Crime increased, and authority
structures disintegrated at every level of society.

11. Failure of Moderate Leadership

The Provisional Government, led by moderates and liberals like Alexander Kerensky, aimed for gradual reform and
continuation of the war effort.

Their inability to meet popular demands—like ending the war, redistributing land, and addressing food shortages—
led to a massive loss of support. This paved the way for more radical groups to seize control.

12. Spark for Global Revolutionary Movements

The February Revolution inspired leftist movements worldwide. It was seen as proof that monarchy and
capitalism could be overthrown by mass action.

Though it was soon overshadowed by the Bolshevik October Revolution, it laid the foundational narrative for
global socialist and communist movements throughout the 20th century.
13. Beginning of Civil War Conditions
The collapse of the old regime and the failure of the Provisional Government eventually led to chaos and division,
setting the stage for the Russian Civil War (1917–1922).

Factions across the political spectrum—Reds (Bolsheviks), Whites (monarchists/liberals), Greens (peasant
rebels), and national minorities—prepared for conflict as Russia plunged into deeper turmoil.