Nicholas II Flashcards
When were the strikes in Rostov and Odessa and why were they significant?
Rostov- 1902 and Odessa- 1903.
They were significant as they demonstrate that the Tsar was prepared to use military force to quell the increasing number of strikes and protests.
Why was the Russian civil service inefficient under Nicholas II?
Civil servants were poorly paid, which lead them to bribery and corruption. The Tsar himself was indecisive and easily influenced.
Why did Nicholas II’s relationship with the Tsarina weaken the autocracy in the long term?
Many Russians disliked the Tsarina Alexandra as she was German, which intensified during WW1. The Tsarina was very close to The Tsar and could easily influence him- she often encouraged him to stay at home with his family rather than attending public events. They made a series of blunders, for instance after Nicholas’ official coronation in 1896 thousands of people were trampled to death during a public celebration in Moscow. The couple were not aware and their ostentatious celebrations in the wake of the tragedy left a poor first impression upon the public.
How did the historian Richard Pipes describe Nicholas II?
As ‘something of a simpleton’.
