The situation that caused the Bolshevik revolution grew out of a number of causes - dissatisfaction with the czarist government, growing industrialization, World War I in Europe, and an increasing number of Russian socialist and radicals. An earlier, though unsuccessful revolution in 1905 helped to establish the concept of a worker's revolution (Hingley 142). The 1905 revolution was sparked when a procession of unarmed workers under the leadership of Father George Gapon was walking in the direction of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. This was a simple and peaceful coming together of workers from the trade unions. Unfortunately, Czarist advisors told the troops to open fire and several hundred workers were killed resulting in the tragedy that has come to be known as Bloody Sunday (Hingley 142). The ensuing violence lasted for only a short time. Nevertheless, the workers' unions, called Soviets, began to be more radical. This was particularly true in St. Petersburg where Trotsky was an important leader in the Soviets.

             Subsequent demands for change led to the formation of the Duma, a quasi-legislature. The delicate balance of the czarist regime had been broken and the citizens began to make more demands regarding education and the rights of workers, both industrial and agricultural (Hingley 146-147). As the czarist government continued to weaken and Russia became involved in World War I, the radicals saw an opportunity for revolution, which they took in February 1917. This revolution established the Provisional Government that was never able to truly gain authority due to the power of the Soviets. In particular the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, which was somewhat supported by a nationwide group of Soviets, had the support of the Petrograd Garrison (Hingley 151). The garrison had been instrumental in causing the February Revolution. Their allegiance to the Soviet gave it the power with the leadership of V.