'Not an overthrow from without, but a collapse from within' Consider this verdict on the February Revolution of 1917
The revolution began with a strike of industrial workers in St Petersburg, inflamed by rumours of food-shortages. The protesters ignored the police, the military forces were sent in, and these mutinied, joining the workers. The Tsar ordered the duma to close, it defied him, and met with the Soviet. Respected army commanders persuaded the Tsar to abdicate, and members of the old duma and soviets formed the Dual Authority, ending the Tsar Dynasty. It could be argued this was a collapse from within due to the weaknesses of the Tsar and the Tsarist system. However, external factors such as the economic problems Russia was facing, urbanisation of the working classes and the actions of revolutionaries also had an effect. To answer this question it is necessary to evaluate the impacts of different factors.
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