The February Revolution 1917

In February 1917 (March by the Western calendar — Russia still used the old Julian calendar), a spontaneous revolution in Petrograd overthrew the 300-year-old Romanov dynasty and ended Tsarist rule in Russia. This lesson examines the causes, events, and immediate consequences of the February Revolution for AQA GCSE History.

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Causes of the February Revolution

The February Revolution was caused by a combination of long-term problems and an immediate crisis.

Long-Term Causes

Cause	Detail
Autocracy	Nicholas II's refusal to share power or make meaningful reforms
Poverty	Widespread poverty among peasants and industrial workers
Military failure	Catastrophic defeats in the First World War
Economic crisis	Inflation, food shortages, fuel shortages, and transport breakdown
Loss of support	The Tsar had lost the support of almost every section of society — workers, peasants, the middle class, and even many nobles

Immediate Trigger

The winter of 1916–1917 was exceptionally harsh. In Petrograd: