Which group led the strike in many factories on 23 February?

Correct answer: Women workers

Women workers led strikes and demonstrations in many Petrograd factories on 23 February 1917, which was International Women’s Day according to the calendar then used in Russia. They protested against bread shortages, high prices and the suffering caused by the war. Their action encouraged male workers to join, turning a protest into a broader strike and revolutionary movement. Option A is correct because women played an active initiating role rather than remaining passive observers. Tsarist officials represented the ruling administration, while foreign traders and landlords were not the group that organised these factory strikes. This example also shows how economic grievances and women’s participation helped widen the revolution.