Fall Of Winter Palace Essay Research Paper

Fall Of Winter Palace Essay, Research Paper

The Fall of Winter Palace

Czar Nicholas II.s reign lasted twenty-one years and ended with the Bolsheviks seizing power. However, from the very start of Nicholas.s rule, fate was not in his favor. For a long time Czars have ruled Russia with power all in their hands. The society that the Czars have created was society extremes and deep poverty. While the Czar and his family lived an aristocratic life, the people of Russia were living a nightmare.

The last Romanov family lived in the palace. Their family was very well off. Czar Nicholas II and the Tsarina Alexandra were happily married. They first had three daughters Olga, Tatiana, and Marie. The house of the Romanovs was very well until the Tsarina.s fourth child Anastasia was born. The disappointment of not gibing the Tsar a son an heir almost made her insane. The Tsarina felt as all of Russia were rejecting her for being German and she knew that the women in St. Petersburg ridiculed her.

Then in 1904 her wishes were granted and Alexis was born. Alexis was born with a disease that was very uncommon during the time. The disease was inherited by his mother bloodline. The slightest bruise or scratch would cause the young boy much pain. By being so weak the young boy was not prepared to rule Russia after his father would die. There were many who questioned if the Tsar were to pass would Alexis be strong enough to let Alexis rule. Nonetheless, the Tsar was determined that Alexis, despite his handicap, would inherit the autocratic rights passed down by his father (Seth 94).

Alexis had a holy monk to help him through his disease. The monk was known as Rasputin. Once when Alexis was very ill the Tsarina.s friend, Anna Vyrubova, sent out a messenger (Mulherin 56). An hour later a tall priest, stinking of alcohol, walked in with a long ragged beard miraculously was able to get Alexis to sleep. The Romanovs were convinced that Rasputin had performed a miracle. There after Rasputin was a common visitor at the court and son became like family to the Romanovs.

The Tsar.s main objective was his family. He would spend his leisure time with his daughters, son, and the Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna. The more that Russia.s economy was crumbling the more the Tsar would run to his family. By always spending time with his family he was not dedicated too much of his work.

The Tsar did not seem to be interested in Russia.s public affairs at all. The Tsar was able to fulfill all his duties, yet showed no compassion in his work. For instance free food, refreshment, and mugs were given out to the people of Russia after a coronation. Nicholas was poorly arranged, and at least half a million people gathered only to be crushed together. The huge masses began to push on towards the tables for their free food, causing much chaos and death. Over two thousand died at Khodynka Meadow, the site for the outdoors post-coronation festivities, and many were injured. To make matters worse, the Tsar and his wife attended an elaborate ball the very next night. Through the eyes of the people, Nicholas and Alexandra had no compassion.

The defects of the Tsar.s personal character would not have mattered so much if the ministries of Russia were able to advise him. Russia seemed to have no real government except a power hungry man. All the government was made up mostly based on the Tsar and numbers of ministries. None of the ministries had any coordination among them; the Tsar was independent and responsible for the well being of Russia. By having so much independence none of the parts of the government had any part to what he did.

In result to all the Tsar.s power the Russo-Japanese war broke out. the Japanese had destroyed the Russian Far Easters Fleet. Each defeat Russia faced it brought greed and discontent at home. Many people started to put together secret organizations against the Tsar. They wanted to establish a democratic system of government in Russia (Lionel 27).

The workers of Russia took their lead in January 1905. The workers were lead by Father Gapon. In that month of January the workers put down their tools and protested in front of the gates of the Winter Palace. Father Gapon led 30,00 singing women and man to the palace (Resnich 95). They wanted the present the Tsar with reforms, lower taxes and better working condition. The crowd were peaceful with no arms, only icons. The Tsar.s Cossacks, who were his soldiers, became alarmed and fired into the mass crowds of people. Shots hurdled across the square hitting hundreds of people and blood was spilled throughout the square. .The march was crushed on that Bloody Sunday, but the revolutionary movement led mainly by liberal and union worker demanding a constitution gained sympathy and strength. (Resnick 97).

In response to the first revolution Tsar Nicholas II created the Duma. Each of the four classes: landowner, townspeople, industrial workers, and peasants elected delegates who in turn chose the member of the government. The Tsar still had the power to veto the Duma acts; however, the Duma.s consent was regarded for all legislation, but this rule was often disregarded in practice.

With Russian industries growing greater the economy expanded rapidly, but not as quickly as other Western European countries. Russian labor was mainly unskilled and desperately poor. .Most