How did the lockout of 22 February become an immediate trigger in the February Revolution?

Correct answer: It turned existing workers' unrest into open protest

Direct answer: Option A, it turned existing workers’ unrest into open protest. The 22 February lockout was an immediate trigger, not the only long-term cause, of the February Revolution. Workers already faced food shortages, inflation, wartime pressure, and poor working conditions. Step by step: the lockout stopped workers from working and earning; it increased anger among people who were already dissatisfied; workers joined demonstrations and strikes; the protest spread beyond one factory and challenged the authorities openly. Thus the lockout converted hidden or developing discontent into visible collective action. Option A is correct because it describes this immediate connection. Option B is wrong because the lockout did not give the Tsar complete public support; it intensified opposition. Option C is wrong because Russia did not leave the First World War because of this event. Option D is wrong because peasants were not given all land by the lockout. Remember the distinction: long-term hardships create the background, while a lockout or similar event can act as the immediate spark.