Why did the Tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917?

Why did the Tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917?

Ans.

The Tsarist autocracy collapsed in 1917 because of the following reasons:

(i) Economic, political and social conditions had deteriorated before 1917 in Russia.

(ii) In the First World War about 7 million Russians died and 3 million had become refugees due to destruction of crops and buildings.

(iii) The soldiers were not in favor of government’s decision to continue fighting.

(iv) On 22 February, the government officials locked out a factory which led to workers of 50 factories going on strike.

(v) On 25th February, the government suspended the Duma. This led to mass demonstrations on the streets on 26th and 27th February.

(vi) The government ordered the cavalry to open fire on the demonstrators but they refused and instead joined the workers.

(vii) The cavalry and workers united to form the ‘Soviet’ or ‘council’ called the Petrograd Soviet. The revolution in February brought down the monarchy and autocracy collapsed.