Tsar Nicholas II Research Paper

To what extent was the Tsar to blame for his downfall in March 1917?

Tsar Nicholas II was rightfully blamed for his downfall in March 1917. His revolting actions resulting in detrimental impacts on Russia made him solely to blame for his abdication. Politically, socially and through War, Nicholas was to great extent his own reason of causing his downfall.

There were numerous political challenges Tsar Nicholas encountered through his reign as ruler, with the majority a direct consequence of shear incompetence and several errors made on his part. In particular, his inability and ignorance to cooperate with the newly created Duma after 1905.

In the October Manifesto, Nicholas finally agreed on the existence of a Parliament, with the
To be a leader or a ruler, it’s immensely vital that you are a man of true decision-making and a strong character. Nicholas was a complete contrast to that and therefore lacked the personal qualities to succeed in the top job which greatly undermined his popularity. Tsar Nicholas was a man who couldn’t make the tough choices and decisions, which consequentially left his advisors authorizing all the judgments. Bloody Sunday was another event, which proved as a vital factor in his abdication and resulted in a gruesome episode of Russia’s History. The Tsar was portrayed as the ‘little father’ by the church who could act as a guide, however after this episode in Russia’s history he was condemned as ‘Bloody Nicholas’. Under the Tsar’s orders, soldiers fired ruthlessly on innocent people who were simply protesting in order to achieve basic human rights. Of course, his popularity decreased dramatically and was an immense reason that his abdication came about. Sir Charles Hardinge, the British ambassador in St Petersburg, reported on the events of January 9, 1995. “What could not fail to strike a disinterested onlooker…was…the absence of any Government at all.” The report clearly stated that the Tsar was well aware and had every intention to persecute, therefore, reiterating the idea that he was every reason to blame for his own abdication.
The 1904/5 Russo-Japanese war defeat was the Tsar’s fault but World War I left the Tsar in all sorts of tatters. The war against Japan proved as a costly mistake for the Tsar which ultimately was his own fault that and consequentially led to his abdication. It was the first victory of an Asian power over a European power which would have caused severe embarrassment for Tsar Nicholas. The incredible evidence of Russia’s military weakness was compounded by the fact that their was an increase in people discontent and demands for reform. World War I was considered the penultimate reason for the Tsar’s abdication and he was evidently responsible for all the detrimental impacts on Russia caused from it. The economical effects of the war were severe which led to numerous problems based entirely as a result of the Tsar’s actions. Due to the fact over 15 million people joined the army, farms and factories were without workers causing severe shortages of food and materials. Their was a poor railway system which consequentially resulted in food shortages in the town and inadequate supplies to the front. This caused severe discontent towards the Tsar as it was too full extent his responsibility to maintain adequate living standards. The social effects were just as worse and led to widespread misery. Hunger and discontent was a detrimental impact due to food shortages and price rises especially