The Failure of the Tsar to Address the Problems of Russia
“The tragic aspect of the situation is that the Tsar is living in an utter fool’s paradise, thinking that he is as strong and all-powerful as before.”
Sergei Witte, 1905
Sergei Witte, 1905
The Tsar's approach to dealing with Russia's problems was in many cases to stubbornly reassert his autocratic right to govern as ordained by God. Although modern historians have largely dismissed the view that he was unintelligent, he was certainly not cut out for the demands of Tsarism, and was often hesitant and indecisive when pressured to make a decision. This led to the worsening of already poor situations and eventually to the downfall of the Tsar himself.
In this section, you will examine:
In this section, you will examine:
- The growth of opposition to the government
- The 1905 Revolution and the Tsar's response
- Attempts at reform and their impact
- Events that led to further decline in the Tsar's popularity