Question

decribe the autocratic nature of the rule of Tsar Nicholas 2 which brought russia on the verge of revolution.

Answer 1

Tsar Nicholas II was an autocratic ruler who ruled without restrictions on his powers. Examples of his autocratic rule are

1. Suppression of the 1905 Revolution: In 1905, there was a wave of political and social movements in Russia demanding greater democratic rights to the people. However, the Tsar suppressed the Revolution violently. Unarmed protestors were fired upon when they went to give a petition to the Tsar. The Revolution did led to the establishment of the Duma as the Russian Parliament. However, the Tsar refused to honour laws passed by the Duma and continued to rule autocratically. 

2. The Tsar ruthlessley executed political opponents, including the brother of Lenin. 

3. The autocratic rule of the Tsar was also perceived to have contributed to the military weakening of Russia. The Tsar frequently refused to listen to military advice and insisted on taking military decisions himself. But he was not competent enough to do so. As a result of his military failures, Russia lost the Russo-Japanese War in 1905 and also suffered severe setbacks in the First World War.

As a result of such autocratic behaviour by the Tsar, Russia came to the verge of Revolution in 1917.