Why Was the Tsar's Government Overthrown in March 1917?

Essay by meeramubzHigh School, 10th gradeA+, March 2004

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Tsar Nicholas ii had absolute power and believed in autocracy. Many groups had tried to persuade or force him to share power. Most Russians lived in poverty even before the First World War which was one cause of the downfall of the Tsar's government.

Many of the Russian people disliked the way that the Tsar ruled. The promises of the October Manifesto weren't fulfilled and the Tsar cheated his own people. He believed that only he and his family could rule. The Tsar created the parliament called the Duma after the 1905 Revolution but in reality this had very few powers.

The economy could not make the demands of fighting the war and civilians suffered badly. The Russians were living in poverty and there was a shortage of food, coal etc. and the prices went up 400%. Many peasants became industrial workers in the larger cities. The wages didn't even go up and there were strikes and workers rioted against the government.

The Russian army did so badly in World War I that many soldiers wanted to serve the Tsar. During the war, Russia suffered a series of defeats and endured the deaths of thousands of its people. The Tsar lost his popularity as he was blamed for all the suffering especially after he made himself commander-in-chief of the armed forces in 1915.

As the war continued, people began to lose faith in the government. The people didn't trust the Tsarina as she was German and her close relationship with Rasputin caused a scandal, especially as he was blamed for persuading the Tsar to choose the wrong ministers during the war. The Tsar wished to fight the bitter end of the war, but he soon failed as he lost his vital support.

People lost faith in the Romanov's fitness to...