The Tsarist autocracy collapsed in 1917 due to a combination of long-term and immediate factors. Long-term causes included widespread dissatisfaction with the autocratic rule, economic hardship, social inequality, and the influence of revolutionary ideas. Immediate causes were greatly exacerbated by Russia’s involvement in World War I, which caused huge military casualties, economic strain, food shortages, and social unrest. The Tsar, Nicholas II, made poor decisions, including dissolving the Duma (Russian parliament) and ruling without political consultation, which alienated many groups such as peasants, workers, and soldiers. The February Revolution of 1917 led to the abdication of the Tsar and the establishment of a provisional government, followed by the Bolshevik-led October Revolution that seized power, ending the autocratic regime and leading to a communist state.
Key Factors in the Collapse of Tsarist Autocracy:
- Political repression and dismissal of Dumas by Tsar Nicholas II, limiting political participation.
- Economic problems including hardship for peasants and workers, inflation, unemployment, and food scarcity.
- Military defeats and heavy casualties in World War I, causing demoralization and loss of support for the Tsar.
- Social unrest from workers striking, peasants demanding land reforms, and soldiers mutinying.
- Rise of revolutionary ideologies and parties such as the Bolsheviks, advocating radical change.
- February 1917 uprising in Petrograd which turned into a general political strike and armed revolt.
- Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II in March 1917 and the end of autocratic rule.
These complex intertwined causes created conditions where the Tsarist autocracy could no longer maintain control, leading to its collapse in 1917.
