Russian Revolution: Tsar Nicholas II Rule

• Study notes for Russian Revolution

The Rule of Tsar Nicholas II (1896–1917)

• Tsar Nicholas II ascended to the throne in 1896
• He inherited an empire with internal strife and backward economic practices
• His reign was marked by incompetence and poor leadership
• He failed to adapt to the 20th century's changes and maintain autocracy
• His domestic and foreign policy failures led to the fall of the Romanov dynasty

The Coronation and the Khodynka Tragedy

• Nicholas II's rule began with the Khodynka Tragedy during his 1896 coronation
• Over 1,000 people were trampled to death for free beer and pretzels
• Nicholas attended a ball instead of mourning, showing detachment from his subjects
• This event foreshadowed his future poor decisions

The Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905)

• The Russo-Japanese War further weakened the Tsar's authority
• Nicholas underestimated Japan, believing a quick win would strengthen the monarchy
• Russia's defeat (Mukden and Tsushima) exposed the military's corruption
• Poorly equipped soldiers and logistical failures occurred
• Russia's vulnerability was exposed, which emboldened revolutionaries

The 1905 Revolution

• Frustration with the war and economic struggles led to the 1905 Revolution
• On January 22, 1905, Father Georgy Gapon led a workers' march to the Winter Palace
• They sought better working conditions, wages, and civil liberties
• Troops fired on the crowd, killing 200 people on "Bloody Sunday"
• This massacre shattered public faith in the Tsar, sparking strikes & mutinies
• Nicholas issued the October Manifesto, promising a Duma (parliament) and offering some civil liberties
• These reforms were superficial; the Tsar retained veto power
• This concession failed to satisfy revolutionaries and the working class

Political Repression and the Weakening of the Monarchy

• From 1906-1914, Nicholas II relied on Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin to maintain order
• Stolypin implemented agrarian reforms to appease peasants
• He used ruthless repression to suppress opposition
• Thousands of revolutionaries were executed, called the "Stolypin necktie"
• Stolypin's assassination in 1911 left Nicholas without a strong advisor
• The Tsar dismissed reform calls and relied on ineffective ministers
• Autocratic policies like limiting the Duma’s power and censoring political opposition increased resentment

The Tsarina and Rasputin's Influence

• Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna was unpopular due to her German heritage
• She became influential over Nicholas, especially regarding their son Alexei
• Alexei suffered from hemophilia
• Alexandra turned to Grigori Rasputin, a self-proclaimed mystic, for a cure
• Rasputin's ability to ease Alexei's symptoms gave him influence over the royal family
• Viewed as a charlatan, Rasputin gained control over political appointments
• The nobility and public resented his influence, seeing him as corrupt
• In 1916, nobles led by Prince Felix Yusupov assassinated Rasputin
• The damage to the monarchy's reputation was irreversible
• Rasputin symbolized the decay of the Romanov dynasty

World War I and Its Consequences

• Russia's entry into World War I in 1914 was a catastrophic decision
• Nicholas believed war would inspire patriotism and unify the empire
• The war exposed the empire's economic and military weaknesses
• The Russian army was poorly equipped and disorganized
• Soldiers lacked basic supplies
• By 1915, over 2 million Russian soldiers were dead, wounded, or captured
• In 1915, the Tsar took command of the army, leaving the gov't to Alexandra & Rasputin
• Nicholas' military incompetence further weakened his rule
• War spending caused inflation and food shortages
• The railway system prioritized troops over food, leaving cities hungry
• Bread riots and strikes became common

The February Revolution (1917)

• In February 1917, discontent erupted into revolution
• Workers in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) went on strike, demanding bread and wages
• Troops refused orders to suppress protests
• On March 2, 1917, Nicholas II abdicated ending 300 years of Romanov rule
• The Provisional Government, led by Prince Georgy Lvov, took power
• However, it was weak and lacked legitimacy

The Provisional Government: Failures and Weaknesses

• The Provisional Government aimed to stabilize Russia but faced challenges
• The Petrograd Soviet, composed of workers and soldiers, held power
• Soviet Order No. 1 decreed soldiers should only follow orders approved by the Soviet
• The Provisory Gov't continued fighting in World War I, draining resources
• The failed Kerensky Offensive in July 1917 weakened their position
• Peasants wanted land redistribution, but the Provisional Government delayed it
• Resulting in unrest

Lenin, the Bolsheviks, and the October Revolution

• In April 1917, Vladimir Lenin returned to Russia with his April Theses
• His April Theses called for "Peace, Land, and Bread" and "All power to the Soviets"
• The Bolsheviks gained support by promising to end the war and redistribute land
• The July Days protests and the Kornilov Affair revealed the Provisional Government's weakness
• By October 1917, the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin and Leon Trotsky, launched a coup
• On October 25 (November 7), they seized buildings, ending the Provisional Gov't's rule
• The downfall of Tsarist Russia was driven by incompetent leadership and poor governance
• Nicholas II's autocratic rule and military failures fostered revolutionary sentiment
• The tsarina's reliance on Rasputin discredited the monarchy
• World War I exposed Russia's economic and military fragility

Conclusion

• The February Revolution ended Tsarist rule, but the Provisional Government failed to address issues
• The Bolsheviks overthrew the Provisional Government in October 1917
• It marked the beginning of a new Soviet era