<P> The first major event of the Russian Revolution was the February Revolution, which was a chaotic affair, caused by the culmination of over a century of civil and military unrest . There were many causes of this unrest of the common people towards the Tsar and aristocratic landowners . The causes can be summarized as the ongoing cruel treatment of peasants by the bourgeoisie, poor working conditions of industrial workers and the spreading of western democratic ideas by political activists . All of these causes led to a growing political and social awareness in the lower classes of Russia . Dissatisfaction of proletarians was compounded by food shortages and military failures . In 1905, Russia experienced humiliating losses in its war with Japan, then Bloody Sunday and the Revolution of 1905, in which Tsarist troops fired upon a peaceful, unarmed crowd, further dividing Nicholas II from his people . Widespread strikes, riots and the famous mutiny on the Battleship Potemkin ensued . </P> <P> These conditions caused much agitation among the small working and professional classes . This tension erupted into general revolt with the 1905 Revolution, and again under the strain of war in 1917, this time with lasting consequences . </P> <P> The revolution was provoked by Russian military failures during the First World War, as well as public dissatisfaction with the way the country was run on the home front . The economic challenges faced due to fighting a total war also contributed . </P> <P> In August 1914, all classes supported and virtually all political deputies voted in favour of the war . The declaration of war was followed by a revival of nationalism across Russian society, which temporarily reduced internal strife . The army achieved some early victories (such as in Galicia in 1915 and with the Brusilov Offensive in 1916) but also suffered major defeats, notably Tannenberg in August 1914, the Winter Battle in Masuria in February 1915 and the loss of Russian Poland during May to August 1915 . Nearly six million casualties--dead, wounded and missing--had been accrued by January 1917 . Mutinies sprang up more often (most due to simple war - weariness), morale was at its lowest, and the newly called up officers and commanders were at times very incompetent . Like all major armies, Russia's armed forces had inadequate supply . The pre-revolution desertion rate ran at around 34,000 a month . Meanwhile, the wartime alliance of industry, Duma (lower house of parliament) and Stavka (Military High Command) started to work outside the Tsar's control . </P>

What happened during the first phase of the russian revolution