The Family Romanov Sparknotes

Misunderstandings happen in our everyday lives, but when is one misunderstanding one too many that can ultimately leave a country in ruins? The Family Romanov written by Candace Fleming is a nonfiction piece set in the time span of 1903 to 1918 filled with the experience of life in the Russian autocracy under the Romanov rule as a peasant, royal and rebel. This story tells us about the downfall of the once greatly praised Russian autocracy, Fleming takes the reader on a journey featuring the rise, but more so the downfall of their rule. After centuries of reign, the Romanov line has a final ruler, Nicholas II, decisions are made and blood is spilled. But, how far would the people of Russia go for a fair government and how oblivious is not

One example of this unraveled when the events of Bloody Sunday played out. A large majority of Russian citizens were under the impression the tsar was not the cause of their miserable lifestyles, when in reality he was somewhat to blame. They were convinced that their beloved leader did not know of their struggles or the immense masses of poverty they lived in. In turn they handed over a petition that requested protection for workers, a living wage, public education and reasonably priced housing. The Russian people often believed, “It wasn’t his fault… He lived so close to heaven, he didn’t know about his people’s suffering on earth” (Fleming, 61). Crowds gathered expecting the tsar to improve their conditions and protect their livelihood. What the people did not know was he would have nearly twelve thousand bayonets and rifles ready to fire after learning about the petition-signing event. In result, nearly two hundred were killed and hundreds were wounded, after that day there would be no misinterpretation about where Nicholas would stand with the people, “Now he was a ‘blood-stained creature’ and a ‘common murderer’” (62). Due to this misconception, the Russians in St. Petersburg had grown a boiling hatred for the tsar all because they held the false belief he was never to

In this instance Nicholas did not understand the magnitude of his people's, more specifically the soldiers suffering while at war with Austria and Germany. Often times the war minister, Vladimir Sukhomlinov, misinformed Nicholas regarding the conditions of soldiers leaving the Russian army without food, clothing and weapons. Through this miscommunication, it left not merely the soldiers without defense, but the country defenseless along with them. As a result, “By the following spring, the shortage had grown so severe that many soldiers charged into battle without guns. Instead, commanders told them to pick up their weapons from the men killed in front lines. At the same time, soldiers were limited to firing just ten shots a day. Sometimes they were even forbidden to return enemy fire” (134). This was just one piece of the puzzle that led to the crumble of the Russian autocracy. Especially considering the fact that everyone could see their efforts for winning the war were dissipating all except for one, “. . . everyone in the tsar’s government knew it… everyone, that is, except Nicholas himself” (135). As shown in this instance, basic misconceptions can begin a ripple effect that has the power to put a country in