Tsar Nicholas II Downfall

Nicholas II played a vital, negative role in contributing to his complete downfall during the early 20th century. His reluctance to become Tsar was a major factor that contributed to his own demise. The release of the October Manifesto in 1905 was one of the key events that led to the end of Tsar Nicholas’s rule over Russia. Tsar Nicholas’s poor leadership in World War 1 as well as his weak-willed personality was also issues that further contributed to the collapse of the Romanov Dynasty. These factors and events severely influenced the political, social and economic aspects of his ruling .The use of sources throughout this essay would amplify the idea, in which Nicholas II played a major role in contributing to his own downfall and eventual …show more content…
The October Manifesto was established as a reaction to the ongoing peasant strikes that resulted from the event, Bloody Sunday. It consisted of three articles including granting the people their civil rights as well as the establishment of the Duma. However, an extract from the October Manifesto unveils how this reform contradicts itself and this factor negatively influences the social aspects of Tsar Nicholas’s regime. “…freedom of conscience, speech, assemblies and associations” is granted to the population, but the representatives or ministers is chosen by the Tsar himself. The line “…by authorities whom We shall appoint” clearly shows how the Tsar is reluctant to give his people their rights as he wanted to keep his power and the system of Autocracy in Russia. This can be amplified in a letter to his ‘dearest mama’ on the 2nd of November, 1905, “…this terrible decision, which I nevertheless took quite consciously” further reinforcing the fact that Nicholas II was not sincere in improving his own nation from the release of the October Manifesto . The contradicting statements in the October Manifesto further stimulated the growing discontent of the people as the rights that they are given are still limited by Tsar Nicholas. As Trotsky states in 1905, “Everything is given and nothing is given”. Therefore, the release of the October Manifesto was a key event …show more content…
In August 1915, Tsar Nicholas sent a letter to the experienced Grand Duke Nickolai Nikolaevich, “…take the supreme command of the active forces and to share with my army the fatigues of war…” He sent this to inform Grand Duke Nickolai that he will be taking over as the Supreme Commander in Chief of the Russian Army. This was a thoughtless decision as he had no experience in leading and organizing such a large-scale war. Russia herself was in no position to fight in such a big war either. An American historian described the effects of supply shortages in 1992, “Men were flung into the firing line without rifles, armed only with a sword-bayonet.” This unveils that the lack of ammunition became a crucial issue when compared to the modern machine guns of the Germans. This resulted in repeated defeats and was reflected in Tsar Nicholas’s lack of experience in large-scale warfare. Also, the high demands of supplies for the troops were costing nearly five times more than it was budgeted for in 1913. This negatively impacted Russia’s economy and amplified the discontent of the people. Because of his role in the war as the Supreme Commander, his people began to blame him for the military defeats and also the economic conflicts. This intensified the political disillusionment about Tsar Nicholas’s rule over Russia. Thus, Tsar Nicholas’s poor