Were Was it the length of World War I that destroyed the Reign of the Tsar Essay Example

than focusing on the war, he should have prioritized sorting out domestic issues. This left Alexandra, his wife, in charge of the country, much to the disapproval of society, including politicians, aristocrats, and peasants. It was ironic that they were at war with Germany, the homeland of the single person running the country, Alexandra. Furthermore, everyone in Russia agreed on their strong dislike for her. However, this wasn't the only issue faced by Nicholas in the Winter Palace. The family doctor, Grigory Rasputin, had gained significant power and respect from the Romanov family after apparently saving Alexis, Nicholas' son who suffered from hemophilia.

The priest Rasputin was known for his poverty, uncleanliness, and drunken behavior. He frequently embarrassed himself by indulging in promiscuity and public misbehavior. Despite this, the Tsarina had a clear affection for him, perhaps too much so. Word of this relationship spread and greatly undermined the authority of Nicholas, eventually leading to a published letter from the Tsarina to Rasputin expressing her desire to be in his arms. This made Nicholas a laughingstock in Russia, as demonstrated by a political cartoon in Source A that highlighted his status as a figure of ridicule.

The image of Tsar Nicholas II was severely compromised as the nation did not perceive him as a serious figure, despite his responsibility to govern the country with the respect of his subjects. This was exacerbated by the opposition's accusations that Rasputin had control over the Romanovs, particularly Alexandra. When Nicholas left to lead the armies, the public image created by the opposition was that the country was being run by a "German spy", who was being manipulated by an insane

and vulgar priest. In Nicholas' absence, his cousin took matters into his own hands and murdered Rasputin by serving poisoned food and drink before shooting him and throwing him into a nearby river. The devoutly religious peasants were disgusted by this act against their holy figure, causing a rapid decrease in the Tsar's popularity and their faith in him.

The loss of loyalty to the Tsar in Russia was due to several factors, including the violent 'Bloody Sunday' protest at the Winter Palace resulting in many deaths and injuries. Additionally, there was widespread discontent among the proletariat, peasants, and higher classes towards authority figures, indicating a revolutionary atmosphere in Russia.

According to the Okhrana extract in source B, the proletariat and peasants exhibited an increase in their hostile feelings towards not only the government but also social groups as a whole. Due to oppression, the labor masses had become more radical in their actions and views towards the government, protesting against the continuation of war with all means at their disposal. Nicholas, while in power, was not willing to discontinue the war, leading to sharp aggression towards the government that extended beyond just its leaders. Moreover, the discontented masses also targeted the Tsar due to his past electoral ideas that left Russia in a political catastrophe. The Tsar attempted to reform politics by creating a Duma and giving extremists a voice in politics in an effort to suppress revolutionary ideas.

Opposition parties tried to prevent the first Duma during Nicholas's reign from receiving more votes than those in favor of complementing the Tsar's ideas. However, their efforts were in vain as it was dissolved due to

its unfavorable results. Subsequently, a second Duma was established with hopes of achieving better outcomes. Unfortunately, Nicholas dissolved two Dumas before finally achieving his desired result, which caused discontent among lower classes and worked against his goals. This decision ultimately proved costly for the Tsar.

After an event, Russia had a surge in political awareness and the emergence of radical groups across the country. This led to more viable political parties that could potentially take power if the Tsar was absent. However, Alexandra's appointment of members with extreme beliefs resulted in the dissolution of the Dumas and dismissal of party members. Nicholas's distrustful nature worsened the situation as important dissenting ideas were ignored. It was opposite to the Tsar's lack of interest in politics.

He would have preferred to participate in conkers instead of his usual sport. The cause of the Romanov dynasty's destruction was not mainly due to the war's length, but rather its beginning. Russia had too many issues to fight a war that held no chance for success. Winning a war requires committed soldiers, and Nicholas lacked the loyalty and respect necessary for triumph despite having numbers on his side. Moreover, it is nearly impossible to win a war when simultaneously fighting battles on both home and foreign fronts.

According to my belief, the downfall of Nicholas was caused by both fighting numerous unsuccessful battles on various fronts and losing the support and esteem of his entire country. Several incidents, including the assassination of Rasputin, Bloody Sunday and the three failed Dumas, contributed to this loss of loyalty. Ultimately, the demise of Tsardom was a result of inadequate loyalty.

It could be a possibility for the

Romanov line to have survived until the 21st century if the Tsar had loyal troops and a loyal population.