February 1917 - Why did the revolution succeed?

• The highest ranks of the army and nobility turned against Nicholas II.

  • It was the highest ranking officers that told him he should stand down and nobility in the Duma who lead on refusing to follow the Tsar's orders.
• Nicholas himself seemed to give up and accept he didn't have the ability to rule anymore.

  • His concern was more for his family than his nation and tsardom.
• Nicholas' upbringing in the idea that all owed him absolute loyalty made him ignore genuine complaints and concerns and see them as disloyalty that must be punished.
• The war illustrated that Nicholas was a weak ruler.

  • He was surrounded by ineffective ministers and hamstrung by the scandals surrounding his wife and Rasputin.
  • His regime was not strong enough to survive the rigours of war.