Do you agree that it was the actions of the Army that destroyed the Tsardom in 1917?

        Actions of other groups in Society also led to the downfall of the Romanov family and show that it was not just the army that destroyed Tsardom. The proletariats were a main factor in the destruction of tsardom. Many peasants left the country after Stolypins failed attempts of land reform, to join the working force in industrial cities, which made the great spurt became ever more successful. But as industry was improving the conditions for the workers were decreasing and many became discontent leading to a second revolution in 1917 once again starting at the Putilov Factory in Saint Petersburg. These demonstrations were exacerbated by the war where many of the proletariats faced great hardship and discontent from starvation and also inflation. Therefore low morale was present in the cities and many turned against Nicholas blaming him for the problems that were present. The peasants in the rural areas were also growing increasingly annoyed with the tsardom after the lack of influence the reforms had on agriculture especially Stolypins attempt, they all still held bitterness from the emancipation of the serfs as well. The war also had a huge effect on the rural peasants as the were suffering from starvation as all of their food products were being sent out to the Army and if they did have food then it would be rotten due to the villages being so remote. Hence, it can be said that the peasants influenced many people to turn against Nicholas when their suffering was demonstrated in the revolts.

The Dumas were getting increasingly stronger during Nicholas’ reign and so became a problem when they turned against the Tsar forcing his abdication. They were angered at the lack of political reform after the 1905 revolution and they felt that Russia’s system of autocratic rule needed modernising. They were also irritated when Nicholas left to be commander in chief for the army leaving Rasputin and Alexandra in charge in Saint Petersburg (Petrograd during the war). Therefore the Dumas led to the Tsarist regime also being destroyed as Nicholas lost support from his main advisors.

Rasputin made an influence on Alexandra and Nicholas changing there opinions towards many factors but he also gave them a false sense of happiness during the war claiming that he could cure Alexi the haemophilic prince.  Many people though believed that Rasputin was just discrediting the Romanov family. Even though Rasputin was ‘more of a symptom of decay of the Tsarist system than a cause of it’ he still had a head on affect to the downfall as he portrayed the weakness of Nicholas and his family.

The World War was a prominent cause in pushing many people to realise their hardship and so, eventually reject the Tsar. It highlighted the poor state of Russia and its rule and emphasised the point that before other countries were sorted out it should sort it own problems to create stability.

        In conclusion, there cannot be one most important in the downfall of the Tsardom as it involved many different classes each voicing different opinions. However, the army’s action seem to be a significant cause as the Tsar relied heavily on them, but it was the opinions of other groups and the fact of the war which tainted the opinions of the army and so acting as a catalyst for their actions which eventually led to loss of support towards Nicholas and hence his abdication. Consequently, it can be said that the Army’s actions was not the main cause in the abdication of Nicholas but, was an essential contributing factor.