Assess the successes and failures of Nicholas II between 1849 and 1917:

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Daniel Longo

IB History HL

Ms. McPhilemy

Assess the successes and failures of Nicholas II between 1849 and 1917:

        

        During the reign of Nicholas the second numerous events affected Russia making the ruling of an already demanding and vast country even more difficult, and given the Tsar’s incapacity to rule, the Russian empire was not it it’s greatest condition.

The main events taking place between 1894 and 1917 were the Russo- Japanese war, the 1905 revolution, the creation of the October manifesto, the reforms created by Stolypin, the industrial issues, the involvement in the first world war and the role Rasputin acquired until his abdication in 1917. All of these events put light on Nicholas’ capability of taking decisions giving hindsight on his successes and failures.

        Russia’s desire to possess an ‘ice-free’ port capable of being active all year round pushed the Tsar to move towards the Japanese coast, precisely, towards the Liaotung Peninsula which was conquered by the Japanese in 1895, shortly after such date Russia, together with Germany and France took the decision of forcing Japan to return such favorable peninsula to China. In 1898, Russia took control of the peninsula gaining resources, territory and Port Arthur. Russia’s intention was technically limited to lease the territory. However, the Japanese government saw the Russian occupation as an undesired threat as it was influencing Korea and the extension of the Trans-Siberian railway seemed like the true intention was to keep the territory permanently. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to negotiate, Japan declared war to Russia on February 8, 1904.

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Russia took victory for granted as the conviction of having more and better resources and men power was very popular, instead, Russia got defeated, thus making Japan look like one of the superpowers of the world and diminishing the Russian confidence towards the government and eliminating any patriotism in the country. The social breakdown together with the unexpected defeat caused a heavy inflation which led to the 1905 revolution. Obviously, the Russo- Japanese war was marked as a failure.

        As the middle class and the workers were protesting for rights and freedom, the October manifesto marked a victory for ...

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