The main instigators of the Russian Revolution, which began in 1917, included leaders from various factions, notably the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin. The discontent among the working class and peasants, caused largely by the economic hardships of World War I, was a crucial factor. Other influential figures included Leon Trotsky, who played a key role in organizing the Red Army, and various socialist factions that opposed the Tsarist autocracy. The revolution ultimately led to the overthrow of the provisional government and the establishment of a communist state, fundamentally altering Russia's political landscape.