The Russian revolution of February 1917 was a
momentous event in the course of Russian history.
Its causes, nature and effect are complex and critical
in the analysis of twentieth century international history.
The revolution began in Petrograd as a workers’ revolt
in response to bread shortages, and was aimed at the Tsarist system
because it was believed that the government was hoarding the bread
in order to drive up prices. However a workers’ revolt, by itself,
is very unlikely to result in the abdication of the Tsar
and a critical phase of the revolution was the mutiny
of the Petrograd garrison, and the loss of control
over Petrograd that the Tsar experienced. Marxist historians
have grossly exaggerated the extent of political involvement in the revolution
and it would be fair to say that only at a very late stage
of the revolution did socialist political parties become involved.
The Tsarist system fell for many reasons: the war against Germany meant
that troops could not be deployed in force against the revolutionaries
the Tsar underestimated the extent of the revolts in Petrograd until it was too late
and the Tsar was convinced by his generals that only the Duma could deal with the situation
All of these events were necessary to bring down an autocratic system centuries old
and deeply connected with the mentality of the Russian people.
