The Tsarist autocracy collapsed in 1917 due to a combination of long-term social, economic, and political factors, along with immediate causes related to World War I.

Long-term factors:

• Widespread dissatisfaction with autocratic rule under Tsar Nicholas II, who dismissed political reforms and restricted political activity, leading to alienation of the population and rising opposition.
• Economic hardship characterized by the miserable condition of peasants who were mostly landless and poor, facing exploitation and high land revenues, and industrial workers who endured extremely low wages, long working hours, unemployment, and lack of rights to unionize.
• Social inequality and land hunger among peasants fueled unrest, while the oppressive autocratic government failed to address these grievances.
• The influence of revolutionary ideas, including Marxist ideology, strengthened socialist and Bolshevik movements advocating for radical change.

Immediate factors related to World War I:

• Russia faced massive military defeats and staggering casualties, which lowered morale and increased public discontent.
• The Tsar took direct control of the military and made decisions unilaterally, ignoring parliamentary bodies like the Duma.
• War conditions worsened economic instability with inflation, food shortages, and industrial shutdowns due to labor shortages, further aggravating workers and peasants.
• The cumulative pressures led to widespread strikes, protests, and eventually the February Revolution of 1917, forcing Tsar Nicholas II to abdicate and ending centuries of autocratic rule.

In summary, the collapse was due to the failure of the Tsarist regime to modernize politically, address social inequities, and manage the war effort effectively, culminating in revolutionary upheaval in 1917.