In addition, the revolutionary activities had been generated in the 19th century. The Populists, the Liberals and the limited Marxists, they later increased their activities and even set up their own political party in late 19th and 20th century. Their opposition seemed to be suppressed, but in fact they were just went underground in Alexander III’s time. Their discontent were never stopped, it had been long generated. Only their discontent reached its climax during Nicholas II’s time, and this potential danger turned to be a revolution due to the Bloody Sunday Incident and the defeat in Russo-Japanese War.
The 1905 Revolution finally stopped. The Czarist Regime did not collapse. The revolution failed to turn over the government. As you can see, this inherited potential danger could not crash the Czarism. The army still supported the Czar. It showed that the inherited discontent was not that powerful, which could turn to be a revolution and clash the Russian government. In fact, this potential danger was long existed. It could be found in other reigns of czar like Alexander III too. All the Czars before Nicholas II could control the situation and maintain stability. Therefore, revolution was not occurred.
The 1917 Revolution, on the other hand, was made on his own. The people’s discontent still existed, but mainly political. Nicholas II failed to establish a truly constitutional government, which he had promised in the October Manifesto after 1905 Revolution. Moreover, the increasing influence of Rasputin revealed the weakness of the Czar. However, Russia was on the progress on transforming by Stolypin’s reforms. Some long existed problems were solving, like the problem of peasantry. Stolypin’s reform helped to make a group of peasants richer. Their lives were improved. The economic hardship was over. There was industrial growth but limited. If the reforms carried on, Czarism could have struggled on and survived. However, Nicholas II made this impossible by putting Russia into the First World War.
The defeat in the First World War revealed the weakness of Russia and the Czar. Nicholas II volunteered to be the commander-in-chief, but it just showed his incapability and gave a chance for Rasputin to intervene in government decisions. The outbreak of the First World War intensified the food and daily necessities shortages problem as all the resources were reallocated for war industry. The standard of living of the Russians deteriorated. The War destroyed the failed of people to the Czarist government. It led to popular discontent. People turned to revolutionary parties to fight against the Czar. Thus, the 1917 February Revolution broke out.
All in all, Czar Nicholas II inherited not a throne but a revolution is partly reflected the truth only. There is potential danger but not necessary to be a revolution. He made it a real one. If he did not commit the same mistake as the 1905 Revolution to join the First World War, the 1917 Revolution would not broke out. It was him who was not able to control the situation which made the discontent grew and finally crashed the Czarism.
