The Russian Revolution was a series of events in 1917 that led to the overthrow of the Tsarist autocracy and the establishment of a communist government in Russia. It consisted of two main phases: the February Revolution, which resulted in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, and the October Revolution, where the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power. The revolution was driven by widespread discontent due to economic hardship, military failures in World War I, and social inequality. It ultimately led to the creation of the Soviet Union and had a profound impact on global politics, inspiring other revolutionary movements around the world.