The beginning of the Russian Revolution in 1917 was sparked by a combination of factors, including widespread discontent with the Tsarist regime, severe economic hardship, military defeats in World War I, and a growing desire for political reform. The immediate trigger was the February Revolution, which saw strikes and protests erupting in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) in response to food shortages and oppressive governance. As unrest escalated, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated, leading to the establishment of a provisional government. The October Revolution later that year further transformed Russia by bringing the Bolsheviks to power.