What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Russian monarchy in 1894 Essay Example

taking place, notable the industrialisation of parts of the country. More opposition groups approached the Tsar, seeking political, economic and social changes throughout the country.

Many people believed that Nicholas II was a weak and indecisive leader. However, throughout his reign, he dismissed many important calls for reform, showing his real power. There were many social and economical developments.Russia began to industrialise and although it remained a predominantly agricultural society, there where hundreds of workers make there way into the much larger cities.

There was also growing pressure on the land from an expanding rural population, most subsistence farmers! Russia was overwhelmingly agricultural throughout this period. She was the 'granary of Europe' even though many peasants starved to death. Agriculture was backward and heavily taxed, partly to finance industrialization. During Alexander III reign, the industrialisation had just taken off, which put a State investment in railroads and the steel industry.

The beginnings of the foreign intervention in the Russian industry lead to much of the profits leaving the country. Russia had to become less dependent on the other European countries.The Russian monarchy in 1894 had Nicholas II as its leader, who had married Princess Alix of Hesse. Soon after he came to power, Nicholas II stated that he wished to maintain the autocratic system. He continued the suppression of opposition, the persecution of religious minorities, and the Russification of the borderlands. The revolutionary groups were rising in the dark.

One of the main problems with the monarchy was their lack of attention to the poor communication problems throughout that period. This caused the Russians many problems because of the fact that once communication had reached a

certain point in Russia, it was already outdated information, and too late for whatever needed to take place. The Russian Monarchy however, surged forward with strength, which was its constant expansion out and away from the main inland. The Russian's required an ice-free port and independent access to the Mediterranean via the Dardanelles. Russia expanded towards India, the Balkans, South East Asia and other countries, but then ended up clashing with many powerful countries, such as Britain, Austria and Japan.

The population's intelligence was another problem. Because of its rural background, most of Russia was of a large peasant population. This meant that much of the country was illiterate. The Russian Monarchy wished to change this. The government at the time were Autocrats. There was a massive bureaucracy throughout Russia, and the country was based on a centralised government.

Another weakness of the Russian monarchy at the time was their lack of understanding about how bad many situations were in Russia at the time. These included many peasant problems, such as debts, taxes, oppression and land hunger.Not only were peasants involved, but so were other groups of people. The workers were put in the dark with such important affairs as housing. The working conditions in Russia for these workers were appalling, with many workers being forced under dirty conditions.

They were also paid very small wages, which didn't even help them get along in life. The general lack of freedom brought to Russia and her monarchy, the growth of socialism. The educated classes also had many problems at hand. They had a lack of intellectual freedom, restricted opportunities, inefficiency and a lack of constitution. This resulted

in constant frustration.

Many peasants broke out their anger in many riots.A huge majority of workers went on strike and small renegade revolutionary groups who indulged in assassinations and propaganda spawned. For example, before Nicholas II, Alexander II in 1881 was assassinated by a group named The People's Will. The Tsars made many concessions, but they were never enough for the workers, peasants and educated classes, mainly because the Tsars were constantly watching out for their own absolute authority to stay in position. When Russia was weakened, it was seriously exposed to demands for improvement. Going back, the Crimean War led to Alexander II's reforms, which was later followed by many of the following Tsars.

Some of the major strengths of the Tsars however, were the fact that it held up Russia's traditions, which was and is very important to a country's morale. There was much loyalty towards and between the Tsars, which led to a strong and powerful government. They had their own Army, and luckily the opposition groups were very small and divided, and caused very little threat.