Fall of the Romanov Dynasty
Was Nicholas solely responsible for the revolution of 1917?
The revolution of 1917 was the culmination of a number of factors coming together and causing the volatile mix of reasons to come together and boil over. The people of Russia where fed up with the horrible conditions they had to put up with and decided to do something about it. Some factor I will discuss include the industrialization,
Nicholas introduced several policies which harmed his countries economic prosperity. One thing that caused massive instability was the encouragement of industrialization. Many peasants decided to move to the urban areas in search of a better life, with the most growth in St Petersburg (55% between 1891 and 1900). These peasants found work in various factories, concentrating many more workers into already poor working conditions. 2,500,000 urban workers where now operating in Russia, living in unhygienic conditions, often sharing a bunk with another worker on a separate shift. Long, hard work hours and horrible conditions made these workers very willing to listen to revolutionary activists such as the social activists. By encouraging economic growth, Nicholas had already started causing the problems that ultimately lead to the revolution.
1905 was a bad year for Nicholas’ popularity. In August of 1905, they where defeated in their war with Japan. With this resounding loss, the people of Russia saw the navy’s weakness as an overall representation of Russian weakness. They pushed harder in their search for reform.
As unrest intensified, so did the number of protests where held. Angry workers where trying to improve there working conditions and to start with these protests where very peaceful. On the 9th of January 1905, a peaceful demonstration marched the streets of St Petersburg, asking for improved pay and working conditions. The Tsar then ordered the Imperial Guard to ensure the procession went no further. The Imperial Guard had had very little crowd control
The revolution of 1917 was the culmination of a number of factors coming together and causing the volatile mix of reasons to come together and boil over. The people of Russia where fed up with the horrible conditions they had to put up with and decided to do something about it. Some factor I will discuss include the industrialization,
Nicholas introduced several policies which harmed his countries economic prosperity. One thing that caused massive instability was the encouragement of industrialization. Many peasants decided to move to the urban areas in search of a better life, with the most growth in St Petersburg (55% between 1891 and 1900). These peasants found work in various factories, concentrating many more workers into already poor working conditions. 2,500,000 urban workers where now operating in Russia, living in unhygienic conditions, often sharing a bunk with another worker on a separate shift. Long, hard work hours and horrible conditions made these workers very willing to listen to revolutionary activists such as the social activists. By encouraging economic growth, Nicholas had already started causing the problems that ultimately lead to the revolution.
1905 was a bad year for Nicholas’ popularity. In August of 1905, they where defeated in their war with Japan. With this resounding loss, the people of Russia saw the navy’s weakness as an overall representation of Russian weakness. They pushed harder in their search for reform.
As unrest intensified, so did the number of protests where held. Angry workers where trying to improve there working conditions and to start with these protests where very peaceful. On the 9th of January 1905, a peaceful demonstration marched the streets of St Petersburg, asking for improved pay and working conditions. The Tsar then ordered the Imperial Guard to ensure the procession went no further. The Imperial Guard had had very little crowd control
Bibliography: Challenge, Change and Continuity. (2001). 33 park road , Milton, Queensland 4064 John Wiley and sons. Wikipedia [Internet] Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_II_of_Russia