I also added that the First World War had a major part to play in the Tsar abdicating as well. On August 1st 1914 Germany declared war on Russia. The Russian army was no where near equipped to cope with a modern war. In order to improve the situation the Tsar left to join the troops on the front line and left his wife the Tsarina to run the country, which didn’t go down well with the Russian citizens. Tsarina was born in Germany which didn’t help, as Russia was fighting Germany in the war. People were unhappy with the Tsar because of this even though he thought it would boost his reputation. There are also many other reasons for the Tsar abdicating.
Gregory Rasputin, a monk from Siberia who the Tsar met in 1905, he soon became a very popular figure in Russian politics, He claimed that he was in possession of miraculous powers that would allow him to protect the Tsar’s only son, Alexis, who suffered from haemophilia (a disease whereby the blood doesn’t clot if a wound occurs) and who on many occasions appeared to be on the verge of dying. From 1915 Rasputin gained a new role. He became Alexandra’s chief adviser. This meant he helped choose ministers and played a part in planning battles, furthermore the Tsarina was supposedly cheating on the Tsar with Rasputin. By December 1916 the Duma and many other people were sure that Rasputin was a German secret agent and that he had wrecked the Russian government on purpose. On 30th December Prince Yusupov murdered Rasputin; he fed him poisoned cakes and wine. When they didn’t work, Yusupov shot him with a pistol. Still Rasputin survived. Finally he was wrapped up in a coat and shoved through a hole in the ice on the river Neva. When the dead Rasputin was found, it was discovered that he drowned, could this of led to the Tsars downfall.
The Duma may have played a part in the Tsars abdication as he refused to co-operate with the Duma. This may have led to the loss of political support in Petrograd.
Another reason for the Tsar abdicating was the collapse of the government, in August 1915. The cabinet of ministers told the Tsar that they couldn’t back his plans to take over command of the army and leave the running to the Tsarina (Alexandra). With Alexandra and Rasputin in charge of ministers at St Petersburg, from August 1915 to February 1917, Russia had four prime ministers, five ministers of the interior, four ministers of agriculture and three ministers of war. The government was getting worse and worse, food, guns, ammunition and clothing failed to reach the army.
In 1915 Russia was a poor country compared to the likes of Germany and Britain. Russia’s railways were so badly run that not enough food could be transported from grain growing areas to the town. Food queues were common in Petrograd. Prices rose sharply during the war.
During this essay I have shown many reasons for the Tsar abdicating, but the most obvious one of all is the First World War because the defeat to the hands of the Germans, as well as going out to the front line which back fired as he left the Tsarina and Rasputin to run the country. This was bad because the Tsarina was German. This can also be linked with Rasputin as supposedly he was a German agent and he wrecked the Russian government on purpose. The Duma can also be linked as they suspected that Rasputin was an agent.
To conclude my essay I personally believe that the main reason that the Tsar abdicated was the outcome of the First World War.
By Ben
Manuell