"The last Tsar of Russia was a tragic figure a classic case of being a leader in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nothing within his power could have prevented the forces of change from overtaking Tsarist Russia."

To what extent do you agree with these explanations of the collapse of autocracy in Russia?

Nicholas Romanov was an indecisive man who was easily influenced by others. Although it was not his character that was the decisive factor in bringing on the revolution. He may have been a leader at the wrong time, but if he had related better to the Russian people for the time he was in power his leadership may have been more effective.

Russia before 1917 was the largest country under one empire. In economic terms it was backward, as it was late industrialising and late to emerge from feudalism. In political terms it was also backward, there was no legal political parties nor was there any centrally elected government .

Russia at this time was under tsarist rule by Nicholas II of the Romanov empire. Nicholas II was brought up by his father Alexander III

Kochan, Lionel., Russian Revolution 1890-1918, London, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1983.

Crankshaw, Edward., The Shadow of the Winter Palace: The drift to revolution 1825-1917, Penguin books, 1983.

With Nicholas away from St Petersburg rumours of scandals within the royal family were running through the public arena. Despite Rasputins murder in 1916 the image of the tsar and tsarist rule as incompetent and dominated by religious mysticism was firmly implanted in the community .

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Approximate Word count = 1532
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)