The Fall of Tsarist Russia
The Fall of Tsarist Russia, The Rise of the Soviet Union.
“To the very end, through its inflexibility and ineptness, the autocracy had been the principal architect of its own downfall. -Christopher Read
Russia, prior to the rise of the Communist powers, was a simple country, with the Romanov bloodline at its helm. The country, with its sprawling landmass and spread out population, was perhaps one of the least developed countries in Europe. (Bruner) While the rest of the world changed and adapted post industrial revolution, Russia failed to play catch up, relying on its conservative leader, who preferred the old world rather than the developing. The modernization of Russia, with its vast territories simply could not be supported by an autocracy successfully. Though the seeds for industrial development were placed in heavy industry, the lack of social rights and liberties, as denied by the Tsars, kept the working class in an unacceptable level of poverty. (Ramage) The sudden outbreak of World War One provided a catalyst to effectively bring down the Tsarist rule of Russia, inspiring the rise of the Soviet Union .It is argued that had Russia retained from fighting in the First World War, the Bolsheviks would never been able to rise above and form the U.S.S.R. Tsarist Russia, already riddled with social and developmental problems had no capacity to take part in a global affair such as the First World War. Tsarist Russia, already in a frail state, was not prepared for fighting in the First World War. The Tsar, who relied on a superficial relationship with the people, managed to isolate himself further from the people then they were willing to follow. The war ravaged through Russia’s economy and resources causing constant unrest for the people. The originally strong spirited war effort had fallen into shambles, under incompetent leadership, causing loss of hope and trust in the government.
Nicholas II, the ruler of Russia during the dawn of the 20th
“To the very end, through its inflexibility and ineptness, the autocracy had been the principal architect of its own downfall. -Christopher Read
Russia, prior to the rise of the Communist powers, was a simple country, with the Romanov bloodline at its helm. The country, with its sprawling landmass and spread out population, was perhaps one of the least developed countries in Europe. (Bruner) While the rest of the world changed and adapted post industrial revolution, Russia failed to play catch up, relying on its conservative leader, who preferred the old world rather than the developing. The modernization of Russia, with its vast territories simply could not be supported by an autocracy successfully. Though the seeds for industrial development were placed in heavy industry, the lack of social rights and liberties, as denied by the Tsars, kept the working class in an unacceptable level of poverty. (Ramage) The sudden outbreak of World War One provided a catalyst to effectively bring down the Tsarist rule of Russia, inspiring the rise of the Soviet Union .It is argued that had Russia retained from fighting in the First World War, the Bolsheviks would never been able to rise above and form the U.S.S.R. Tsarist Russia, already riddled with social and developmental problems had no capacity to take part in a global affair such as the First World War. Tsarist Russia, already in a frail state, was not prepared for fighting in the First World War. The Tsar, who relied on a superficial relationship with the people, managed to isolate himself further from the people then they were willing to follow. The war ravaged through Russia’s economy and resources causing constant unrest for the people. The originally strong spirited war effort had fallen into shambles, under incompetent leadership, causing loss of hope and trust in the government.
Nicholas II, the ruler of Russia during the dawn of the 20th
Cited: Bruner, Jerome. "Tsar Nicholas II : Biography." Spartacus Educational. Web. 10 Apr. 2011. . Cawood, Ian, and David McKinnon-Bell. "Protest and Pacifism." The First World War. London: Routledge, 2001. Print. Moss, Walter. "The March Revolution And The Fall Oh The Romanovs." A History of Russia,. New York: McGraw-Hill Primis, 2001. Print. Pearson, Raymond. "The First World War and the Partition of Eastern Europe." The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Empire. New York: Palgrave, 2002. Print. Prizel, Ilya. "Russian Identity and the Soviet Period." National Identity and Foreign Policy: Nationalism and Leadership in Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1998. Print. Ramage, Kevin. "February 1917: The Fall of the Tsar." Socialist Alternative. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. . Stavrou, Theofanis George. "Introduction,On Interpretting the Fate of Imperial Russia." Russia under the Last Tsar. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 1969. Print. Cawood, Ian, and David McKinnon-Bell. "Protest and Pacifism." The First World War. London: Routledge, 2001. Print. Moss, Walter. "The March Revolution And The Fall Oh The Romanovs." A History of Russia,. New York: McGraw-Hill Primis, 2001. Print. Pearson, Raymond. "The First World War and the Partition of Eastern Europe." The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Empire. New York: Palgrave, 2002. Print. Prizel, Ilya. "Russian Identity and the Soviet Period." National Identity and Foreign Policy: Nationalism and Leadership in Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1998. Print. Ramage, Kevin. "February 1917: The Fall of the Tsar." Socialist Alternative. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. . Stavrou, Theofanis George. "Introduction,On Interpretting the Fate of Imperial Russia." Russia under the Last Tsar. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 1969. Print. Zelnik, Reginald E. Labor and Society in Tsarist Russia; the Factory Workers of St. Petersburg, 1855-1870. Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 1971. Print.