The Decline and Fall of the Romanov Dynasty – Nicholas II

1. The Decline and Fall of the Romanov Dynasty – Nicholas II Case Study Modern History Preliminary Course By S.Angelo History Head Teacher East Hills Girls Technology High School 2007

2. Tsar Nicholas II - Main Issues • Wanted to maintain the autocracy for his heir – Alexis • Lacked the personality & skills necessary to rule as an autocrat • Weak, mediocre ministers; often corrupt • Forced to grant October Manifesto • Failed to follow through with political reforms • Failed to maintain support/confidence of elite

3. Nicholas II – Ascension 1894 • Alexander III, father of Nicholas, a powerful, domineering man, dies aged 49 • Nicholas ascends to the throne at the age of 26 • Marriage to Alexandra • Belief in his divine right to rule • Council members chosen by the Tsar • Used repression to try to control opposition • Pogroms against Jews commence

4. Political Issues • 1895 Lenin led a league aimed at the emancipation of the working class; leading to a rapid growth in strikes • Major political parties were dominated by the intelligentsia and not the peasants • Aim of all revolutionary parties was to end the autocracy – although each wanted a different outcome • Minister for Education – assassinated 1901 • Minister for the Interior – assassinated 1902

5. Economic Issues • Program of economic modernisation • needed to raise money to pay for the Trans-Siberian railway • Grain continued to be exported even in the face of famines in 1897, 1898, 1901 • Taxes were collected when grain prices were at their lowest increasing the economic demands on the peasants • Peasants had to seek work in urban centres • Some peasants wanted an end to the redemption payments • Some peasants wanted more land • 1903 – wave of strikes – oil, rail, engineering industries

6. Social Issues • Industrial workers now formed a new class • Conditions for these workers were appalling • Overcrowding, dirty, unhygienic, dangerous • Long hours • Communes were disrupted when peasants had to seek work in towns • Families became resentful and demanded reforms

7. Economic Reforms • Sergii Witte • wanted an equalizing of class status between peasants and other classes • Wanted to create a market class – farmers who had the means to purchase manufactured goods • Supported autocracy as the means of ruling such a diverse country • Supported the modernisation of Russia • Better education, civil liberties, better working conditions, efficient administration, rapid industrial growth

8. Russo-Japanese War 1904 - 5 • War over the control of Manchuria and Korea • Russia defeated • Belief in supremacy of Russia shaken • Autocracy undermined • Strikes and demonstrations in St Petersburg

9. 1905 Revolution – Bloody Sunday • 8 January 1905 – Putilov iron factory strike • Led by Father Gregory Gapon • 111, 000 workers involved • 99, 000 women and children also marched • Marched on Winter Palace • Demands included reforms to working conditions • Demonstrators were fired on and ridden down by mounted Cossacks with sabres • About 130 people were killed and hundreds injured • This destroyed the image of the ‘People’s Saviour’

10. Results of Bloody Sunday • Spread of disturbances and revolts in Kursk & the Volga • About 50% of peasants in 16 provinces revolted • Union of Unions formed – alliance of professionals – leader Milyukov • 1st socialist Soviet (workers’ council) formed • June – Potemkin mutiny • 10 other mutinies followed • August – an offer of an elected consultative council failed to stop the revolution • 7 October – first general strike • 14 October - St Petersburg Soviet – Leon Trotsky (Menshevik) • 17 October – October Manifesto – framed by Witte, Prime Minister

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