How the Russian Revolution Started The Russian Revolution began in 1917, driven by widespread discontent with the autocratic rule of Tsar Nicholas II and the hardships of World War I. The war had devastated Russia’s economy, leading to food shortages, inflation, and severe military losses, which fueled public frustration and unrest. In February 1917, strikes and protests erupted in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), initiated by workers demanding bread and better working conditions. The unrest quic