Why was there a Revolution in Russia in February 1917?

Long Term Causes: Autocratic nature of Tsar Nicholas’ regime. Believed in divine right to rule and that he was appointed by God to rule over Russia. Russia was huge. Very difficult to govern the entire peninsula. Had around 125 million people under the Tsar’s control. Russia was industrially backwards. Had limited roads and had a large peasant population. Russification policy oppressed those who were not Russian born, eg. Jews. Lots of people living in Russia were of different nationalities. Working conditions in urban areas were dire. People there were poor and oppressed Emergence of the Bourgeoisie. Wanted a constitution like England’s. Short Term Causes: Russo-Japanese War 1904. Tsar Nicholas went to war as a means of diverting people’s attention away from domestic issues at home. Japan was a far more backwards country than even Russia was. Nicholas and his advisors deemed it an easy target. However, through a process of guerilla warfare, Japan won and Russia was humiliated. Bloody Sunday (Jan 22, 1905). Striking workers and their families marched in a peaceful protest to the Tsar’s winter palace against poor working conditions, under priest, Father Gapon. Demonstrators were even singing God Save the Tsar. Tsar was not at home in the Winter palace and someone gave the order to shoot at the crowd. Around 1000 people were killed or wounded in the attack. Disorder and looting broke out as the people had been allowed to be shot, even though it wasn't commanded by him, by the Tsar who was their ‘father’, and he had failed to protect them. 1905 Revolution- The culmination of Bloody Sunday and failure of Russo-Japanese war, led to strikes and riots from Russian sailors on the battleship, potemkin. Committees named Soviets were set up to represent the sailors and other striking soldiers and workers. Domino effect. Everyone began striking. In order to calm the revolts, the Tsar created the October Manifesto. This established the political board of the Duma. The tsar promised to allow the population who were previously cut off from joining the duma. It ensured that no law would be passed without the consent of the duma and that freedom of speech would be granted to all. However, the Tsar continuously over rode the Duma, dissolving it each time it disagreed with him. 4 dumas in total until 1917. Tsar still stuck in autocratic ways.