Nicholas II became Tsar in 1894 at the
Nicholas II became Tsar in 1894 at the age of 26. he was modest and deeply religious and took his responsibilities as Tsar very seriously. However, he knew very little about his people. He never travelled around his country meeting them and relied on his advisers telling him what was going on. Source A, an excerpt from a GCSE history textbook. “He never had an opinion of his own … always agreeing with the judgement of the last person he spoke to. ” Source E, written by Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich The Tsar was an autocrat (he alone ruled without any sort of parliament). Nicholas’ rule was enforced at local level by groups of noblemen. The Tsar also used the army and the dreaded Okhrana (secret police) to run the country. Although Nicholas was a tyrant, his was a weak tyranny. Source D, an excerpt from a GCSE textbook. “His ancestors did not pass on to him one quality which would have made him capable of governing an empire. ” Source J, written by Leon Trotsky who opposed Tsarist rule. “He could be cruel and merciless. He would not stand for opposition. His answer was always the same – violence. ” Source H, a description of the Tsar. “Nicholas II was not fit to run a village post office. ” Source K, a description of the Tsar by an unnamed government official. “Although he was hard working and loved his family he had serious weaknesses. He found it hard to make decisions and was unable to concentrate on running the country. Many people wanted Russia to change and modernise, but Nicholas saw this as a threat to his power. ” Source B, a historian describing the personality of Tsar Nicholas. In 1905 200, 000 people marched on St Petersburg. This was a peaceful march led by a priest with the aim of asking the Tsar to improve the working conditions of the people. Tsarist troops attacked the troops and as many as 1, 000 were killed on ‘Bloody Sunday’. ” Source F, from a History textbook. “The daily work of a monarch he found intolerably boring. He could not stand listening long or seriously to ministers’ reports, or reading them. ” Source C, written by Kerensky, the leader of the government which took over from the Tsar in 1917. “Fundamental civil freedoms will be granted to the population, including real personal inviolability, freedom of conscience, speech, assembly and association. ” Source G, an extract from the ‘October Manefesto’ issued by the Tsar to stop the wave of protests and strikes organised against the Tsar. “He kept saying … that he was wholly unfit to reign … And yet Nicky’s unfitness was by no means his fault. He had intelligence, he had faith and courage and he was wholly ignorant about governmental matters. Nicky had been trained as a soldier. He should have been taught statesmanship, and he was not. ” Source I, from the diary of the Tsar’s sister, the Grand Duchess Olga.
QUESTION What personal characteristics did he have? How did he rule? How did he deal with opposition? ANSWER GOOD TSAR/ BAD TSAR? EXPLANATION
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