The Fall of Tsarism in Russia

The Fall of Tsarism in Russia

(I) “Autocracy is an outdated form of government not suited to

twentieth century Russia.” By Count Leo Tolstoy.

(II) “Without war Tsarist Russia would have survived and prospered.”

By V.N.Kokovstov.

The fall of Nicholas II and Tsarism was the occurrence of the

Revolution of March 17th. The revolution was sparked off by the

pressures of war although it had its roots in the failure of the

Tsarist regime to modernise itself. Russia was in a state in which the

people enjoyed very little political freedom, and in which

industrialization had only just commenced. His reluctance to

delegate power eventually lost him the trust of nearly every social

group in Russia society.

There are two main views which are seen by that caused the fall of

Tsarism. One view is that Tsarism was seen to be inadequate and

insufficiently effective before 1914. The other view is that Tsarism

was prospering and surviving and had it not been for the war which

fatally undermined it, Russia would have continued to flourish and

slowly develop into a great power.

Although Russia was beginning to form a Duma and began to

industrialize, it was still not living up to its true potential. In

relation to the size of the country, it was predicted that Russia

would be one of the great powers of the world. Instead, it was a

country abundant of unemployment, low wages and inflation. The

popularity of the Tsar was ever-decreasing and opposition was

worryingly increasing for him. Although the Tsar introduced the

October manifesto, which stated that all classes had the freedoms of

speech, conscience, assembly and association as we...

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...e to unite Russia, the army suffered in the battlefield and could

not fight properly, eventually causing the Tsar to abdicate to create

the fall of Tsarism.

Tolstoy’s view is correct although there were signs that Russia was

evolving into a more modern country. There were signs of economic

growth as well as better living conditions and more rights to the

people. However, the Tsar’s greediness and selfishness brought an

abrupt end to what was left of Russia’s political stability. If the

Tsar was willing to modernize and delegate power, then the country

would have continued to grow, no matter the situation of being a war

on or not. It is impossible to say how much effect the war had of the

fall of Tsarism, but the war was merely the final test which the Tsar

had failed to cope with causing the downfall of Tsarism.