nicholas II as a ruler

Question 1

what type of man was he?

Answer 1

a small, naturally reserved man
-father referred to him as weakling , ‘girlie’
- not prepared to be a tsar, unconfident in ruling

Question 2

how did he take his duties as a ruler?

Answer 2

-took his duties as ruler very seriously
-believed any concessions + signs of weakness= indication of cowardice and failure on his part

Question 3

who did Nicholas’s belief in being a strong leader be instilled by?

Answer 3

instilled by Konstantin pobdedonostev, his tutor

Question 4

what was Nicholas aim as stated shortly before his coronation?

Answer 4

• maintain principle of autocracy as firmly + unflinchingly as it was preserved by his unforgettable,dead father

Question 5

what ensured that the church maintained its powerful influence?

Answer 5

Nicholas commitment to the orthodoxy

Question 6

why was Nicholas no more popular with ethnic minorities than his father had been?

Answer 6

-Nicholas continued russification and supported ‘Black Hundreds’ organisations, with their right-winged + anti-semitic ideals

Question 7

black hundreds

Answer 7

nationalist gangs
-devoted to ‘tsar,church and motherland’ emerging from c1900 + supported by clergy,landowners + gov officials
-played a major role in crushing the 1905 revolution

Question 8

why did Nicholas’s reign take an ominous start

Answer 8

-in may 1896, attracted by promise of free food,drink + gifts crowds gathered to celebrate Nicholas II’s coordination
- 1400 men, women and children trampled to death and other badly injured
-coronation ceremonies continued as though nothing happened, but nicholas later visited hospital where injured taken

Question 9

Khodynka -why did Nicholas II’s reign start off to an ill-opened start?

Answer 9

-may 1896 during celebrations that accompanied his coronation :
- 1400 people killed
-600 injured in khodynnka field

Question 10

Nicholas II as ruler

Answer 10

-could command respect and loyalty but lacked training + experience for leadership
-inability to make decisions
-unwillingness to engage in politics(even to read gov reports)
-lack of organisation skills
-weakness
-obstinacy
-found it difficult to say unpleasant things to ministers to their face -often wrote a note after seeing them in which criticised their ideas and proposals