The February Revolution of 1917, which resulted in the creation of the Provisional Government, was a spontaneous affair. The tsar was forced to abdicate because the army and the elite prioritised winning the war and deemed the duma politicians to have a better chance of doing this than the tsar. This meant they failed to support the tsar in the face of unrest in St Petersburg leaving him with no option other than abdication.
The provisional committee of the duma which then took power and formed what was to become the Provisional Government was not swept to power by popular support. Until they delivered the promised constitution and elections, they lacked authority. Moreover, the Provisional Government was accountable at every point to the Petrograd Soviet. The soviet commanded the support of essential workers and most importantly the Petrograd garrison.
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