The Emperor of Russia, Nikolai II and the Imperial Duma agreed that in order to reach a rapid victory against the central powers, Nikolai needed to resign which he did on March 15, 1917. The Duma and Nikolai believed that his abdication would create a more unified Russia who at the time was undergoing internal civil unrest because people were looking for change within the government and were unhappy. Therefore, Nikolai believed that by stepping down from the throne, he would abolish the threat that the civil unrest had on the progression of the war. In Nikolai’s eyes, his resignation would not only benefit the outcome of the war, but protect the welfare of the people and serve in their best interest as well. Additionally, his son originally was next to capture the throne, but because Nikolai did not want to be separated from his son, he abdicated for him and instead, had his brother Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich succeed him. On March 16, 1917, Mikhail accepted his brother’s decision to have him become the next Supreme Power under the condition that the Russian people truly wanted this and would accept the duty of picking their form of government and law system for a new Russian state. Until this happens though, he establishes a Provisional Government in which he expects everyone to follow.