2. Food shortages in Urban Areas: Because a shortage of grain and many farmers called to war, this disrupted transportation, resulting in fewer supplies making it to the larger cities - the urban poor felt this hardship more directly and would protest/strike at their work and cause general disorder
3. Government Mismanagement and Loss of Support for Czar Nicholas II In February, Czar Nicholas II had ordered several protests/strikers shot which only increased unrest; many of Russia's closest advisors urged him to step down to save the crown - instead he refused and instead appointed unpopular politicians in the government; in the last attempt the Duma (Russian Parliament at the time) and a provisional government was created