The Decline and Fall of The Romanov Dynasty.
World War 1 was the defining factor which led to the collapse of the Romanov Dynasty in February, 1917. Without it a revolution would not have happened at this point in time. This is not to say a revolution would not have eventually happened, as many of the ingredients needed were already present. However, what World War 1 essentially did was to heighten discontent throughout society enough for it to revolt.
Russia had been experiencing major problems, both social and economic, long before war broke out in 1914. .
Social freedom was basically unheard of for the vast majority of lower-class Russians (around 50 million at the time of emancipation) and all throughout the history of Imperial Russia's there have been massive class divides. Up until the Edict of Emancipation, instituted by Tsar Alexander I in 1861, slavery (in the form of serfdom) was completely legal and actively encouraged. These serfs had practically no rights and could be sold and traded at their master's discretion. This goes to highlight the massive class divide between the landowners (extremely rich) and the serfs (extremely poor) as well as the backwardness of Russian society as compared to other European powers at the time. Even after these serfs were emancipated and given basic human rights, very little actually changed in their way of life and they were forced to pay excessive land taxes (redemption payments) or leave their homes. Subsequently two new social groups emerged in Russia, the proletariat (industrial workers who were mainly peasants that had drifted into the cities in search of work) and the bourgeoisie (capitalists and the owners of the factories). These two groups inhabited the major cities of Russia and pioneered her industrial revolution, decades after other nations such as France, England and Germany had begun theirs. The proletariat were over-worked, under-paid, suffered poor living conditions and were thus discontent with their lives.
What were the causes of the decline and fall of the Romanov dynasty? There were many causes as to the fall of the Romanov of dynasty. ... A major factor, which contributed to the fall of the Romanovs, was Nicholas II himself. ... He was one of the main reasons for the decline and fall of the Romanovs. ... Before his death, Rasputin foretold of the fall of the Romanovs. ...
Rasputin Research Assessment Investigate the role of Rasputin in causing the collapse of the Romanov Dynasty Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin, also known as the Mad Monk' was undoubtedly one of the key factors contributing to the fall of the last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II. ... The Romanov's had ruled Russia since 1613. ... Rasputin played a small but pivotal role in the downfall of the Romanov dynasty that finally led to Bolshevik victory and the establishment of the Soviet Union. ... This was an enormous factor leading to the fall of the Romanovs, for it was at this time,...
The age of the Romanov's abruptly ended with the brutal slaughter of the Imperial family. ... The Romanov dynasty was in power in Russia from 1613 to 1917.The family was murdered at Ekateringburg on July 17th, 1918. ... Believing that he could somehow still save the dynasty, Nicholas II signed the abdication statement on March 15, 1917, making his brother, Grand Duke Mikhail, the new Tsar. The grand duke wisely declined the title, bringing the 304-year-old Romanov dynasty to an end. ... The Romanov's had given Lenin a major problem. ...
