The Role of the Bolsheviks for the Decline and Fall of the Romanov Dynasty.
Modern History
Research Essay: The Russian Revolution (Task 1)
Assess the role of the Bolsheviks for the decline and fall of the Romanov dynasty.
The beginning of the 20th century brought radical changes to the social and political structure of autocratic Russia. It was a period of regression, reform, revolution and eradication. Eradication of a blood line that had remained in rule for over 300 years; the Romanov Dynasty. The central figure of this eradication was Tsar Nicholas II, often described as an incompetent leader, absent of the “commanding personality nor the strong character and prompt decision which are so essential to an autocratic ruler...” (Sir G. Buchman, British ambassador to Russia from 1910 in H. Seton-Watson, The Decline of Imperial Russia, 1964, p.108) What caused or defined the decline and eventual fall of the Romanov dynasty cannot concluded by one influencing factor but an amalgamation of Tsar’s leadership, certain events that impacted on Russia and Revolutionary groups that aided this process. From these it is evident though that Tsar Nicholas’ role, to a major extent, was the key factor in the end of the 300-year reigning Romanov rule and subsequent execution. In exploring Russia in the early 20th Century, the revolutionary groups, mainly including the Bolsheviks, can be seen as having a minor role in that actual reason for the decline of the Romanov dynasty but rather a larger role in the events after the fall, in regards to the execution itself and shaping Russia’s future afterwards.
The early years plunging Russia into the 20th century brought humiliation and prevalent discontent and resentment towards Tsar Nicholas. The decision to push Russia into a war with Japan unprepared and overconfident was the first fatal mistake Tsar Nicholas made. The humiliating blow of the disastrous war with Japan was felt nation-wide and led the people to lose faith in their “little father” and “divine ruler”. “Russia was humiliated in the eyes of
Research Essay: The Russian Revolution (Task 1)
Assess the role of the Bolsheviks for the decline and fall of the Romanov dynasty.
The beginning of the 20th century brought radical changes to the social and political structure of autocratic Russia. It was a period of regression, reform, revolution and eradication. Eradication of a blood line that had remained in rule for over 300 years; the Romanov Dynasty. The central figure of this eradication was Tsar Nicholas II, often described as an incompetent leader, absent of the “commanding personality nor the strong character and prompt decision which are so essential to an autocratic ruler...” (Sir G. Buchman, British ambassador to Russia from 1910 in H. Seton-Watson, The Decline of Imperial Russia, 1964, p.108) What caused or defined the decline and eventual fall of the Romanov dynasty cannot concluded by one influencing factor but an amalgamation of Tsar’s leadership, certain events that impacted on Russia and Revolutionary groups that aided this process. From these it is evident though that Tsar Nicholas’ role, to a major extent, was the key factor in the end of the 300-year reigning Romanov rule and subsequent execution. In exploring Russia in the early 20th Century, the revolutionary groups, mainly including the Bolsheviks, can be seen as having a minor role in that actual reason for the decline of the Romanov dynasty but rather a larger role in the events after the fall, in regards to the execution itself and shaping Russia’s future afterwards.
The early years plunging Russia into the 20th century brought humiliation and prevalent discontent and resentment towards Tsar Nicholas. The decision to push Russia into a war with Japan unprepared and overconfident was the first fatal mistake Tsar Nicholas made. The humiliating blow of the disastrous war with Japan was felt nation-wide and led the people to lose faith in their “little father” and “divine ruler”. “Russia was humiliated in the eyes of
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