Russian February Revolution of 1917

The Russian February Revolution of 1917 was one of two revolutions which happened in Russia in the year 1917. It forced the Tsar Nicholas II to abdicate the throne in March of the same year.

Events

 * On 22nd February, the Putilov Steel Works Factory in Petrograd (as St Petersburg was then called) went on strike, protesting the conditions they had to work and live in.


 * The following day happened to be International Women's Day, which meant women joined the fun of protesting!


 * The protesters were joined over the next few days by more and more workers to the extent that Petrograd effectively came to a standstill.


 * The city continues to descend into chaos over the next week.


 * Tsar Nicholas II abdicates the throne on 2nd March, ending the 300 year old Romanov dynasty.

Causes
The first Revolution of 1917 was interesting in that it wasn't an organised demonstration against the Tsarist regime, but more of a culmination of discontent which had been growing over the past decade in Russia. Since 1914, Russia had been fighting in World War One on the side of the Great Powers (Britain, America, France, etc), and following the Russian Revolution of 1905, the country had still not properly recovered from the economic hardships. War, significantly contributing to the deterioration of Russian society, was a primary factor in causing the Revolution.

Aftermath
Following, the abdication of the Tsar, a centre wing Provisional Government was set up with the idea of following Westernised democracy. However, the Government was very fragile, went through two different leaders in 8 months, and was overthrown by the Bolsheviks in the October Revolution of the same year, which was the revolution leading to the creation of the Soviet Union.