Customer center

We are a boutique essay service, not a mass production custom writing factory. Let us create a perfect paper for you today!

Example research essay topic: Nicholas Ii Winter Palace - 1,048 words

NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote

"I shall maintain the principle of autocracy just as firmly and unflinchingly as it was preserved by my unforgettable dead father. (Nicholas II) In spite of the Czar's decrees and declarations, Russia, by the beginning of the 20 th century, was overripe for revolution. This statement is supported by political and socioeconomic conditions in late monarchial Russia. Nicholas II was the Czar of Russia from 1896 - 1917, and his rule was the brute of political disarray. An autocrat, Nicholas II had continued the divine-right monarchy held by the Romanov's for many generations.

Since the day Russia appointed Nicholas II as Emperor, many problems arose with the people. Traditionally at coronations, the Emperor would leave presents for the peasants outside Moscow. The people rapidly rushed to grab the gifts, and trampled thousands in the bedlam. As an autocrat, no other monarch in Europe claimed such large powers or stood so high above his subjects as Nicholas II. Autocracy was traditionally impatient and short-tempered. Nicholas II wielded his power through his bureaucracy, which consisted of the most knowledgeable and skilled members of Russian high society.

Like the Czar, the bureaucracy, or chinovniki, stood above the people and was always in danger of being poisoned by their own power. When Sergei Witte was appointed as Russia's Minister of Finance from 1892 to 1903, he attempted to solve Russia's "riddle of backwardness" in its governmental system. (Trotsky) He was considered more of a forerunner of Stalin rather than a contemporary of Nicholas II. In 1900, Witte wrote a memorandum to Nicholas II, underscoring the necessity of industrialization in Russia. After the government implemented Witte's plan, Russia had an industrial upsurge.

All of Russia, however, shared a deep-seated resentment of the sudden jump into an unpleasant way of life. Witte realized that Nicholas II was not capable of carrying Russia to an industrial nation as a Great Power. Nicholas II weakness were obvious to himself when he said, "I always give in and in the end am made the fool, without will, without character. " (Trotsky) At this time, the Czar could no longer lead. His ministers bickered amongst themselves and cliques and special-interest groups interfered with the conduct of government. Nicholas II never took interest in public opinion, and seemed oblivious to what was happening around him. He remained convinced that he would be able to handle Russia himself.

By 1902, the peasants had revolted against Witte's industrialization movements, which were marked by an increase in taxes (Russia spent more than it ever had). Russia was struggling in the European and Asian markets, and with much domestic unrest, Nicholas II did not want foreign affairs muddled as well. By August 1903, Nicholas II dismissed Witte from the Minister of Finance. January 22, 1905, commonly known as Bloody Sunday, was a revolutionary event only because of what followed not of what actually happened on that day. A group of workers and their families were determined, with the backing of several officials, to present a petition to the Czar. As they approached the Winter Palace, rifles sprayed them with bullets.

This cruel act demanded by the Czar shattered whatever faith the workers and peasants still held for Nicholas II, and sparked the quickly-aborted "October Revolution. " Peasants and workers revolted in an elemental and anarchic rebellion, ultimately turning a large-scale strike and bringing the government, economy, and all public services to a complete halt. By October 1905, the relations between the Czar and his subjects had come to a complete breakdown. The October Manifesto, created in 1905, caused two changes. First, it granted basic civil liberties to all, despite religion or nationality; it even legalized political parties.

This concession was capped by the creation of an elected legislative body, the Imperial Duma. Second, it split the revolutionary front, reconciling the most cautious elements among the moderates, and with a government, it promised to end the abuses of autocracy. This formed the political party called Octobrist, which lead the Duma. From 1907 - 1911, Peter Stolypin was Chair of the Soviet of Ministers.

Stolypin's goal was to seal the rift between the government and the public. His scheme was a moderate one, based largely on Witte's earlier suggestions. Its essence was the creation of a prosperous and conservative element in the countryside composed of "the strong and the sober. " However, Stolypin succeeded with some improvements in the civic status of the peasantry, but did not expunge the barriers separating it from privilege Russia. In 1911, some revolutionary assassinated Stolypin. In 1916, Nicholas II and his wife, Alexandria, were so estranged from the ruling circle that a palace coup was freely advocated. Before this, Alexandria had brought Rasputin, a faith healer, to live with them in the Winter Palace at Petrograd.

Alexandria believed he was holy and could save her son, Alexander, from dying of hemophilia. Rasputin ate into the woodwork of the Russian aristocracy, and Alexandria made sure that the members of the Duma did not tarnish him, but met his requests. However, two revolutionaries murdered Rasputin in December of 1916, after being poisoned, shot, and drowned. Many members of the Imperial family and army generals in the field believed that, "if it were a choice between the Czar and Russia, Id take Russia. " (Chamberlin) The British Ambassador to Russia, Sir George Buchanan, said to Nicholas II on January 12, 1917, "Your Majesty, if I may be permitted to say so, but one safe course open to you, namely to break down the barrier that separates you from your people and to regain their confidence. " (Chamberlin) To this, Nicholas II replied, "do you mean that I am to regain the confidence of my people or that they are to regain my confidence?" (Chamberlin) History took its course with the belligerent ravings of Nicholas II, and on March 7, 1917, a major demonstration ignited in Petrograd. After two days of heavy rioting, the soldiers called into to control and defend... the regime gave up and joined in.

On March 12, the soldiers in Petrograd would not obey the Czar's orders, and in several days this held for the rest of Russia. On March 15, Czar Nicholas II abdicated his Empire to the missionaries of the Duma. Socially, Russia was in just about...


Free research essays on topics related to: nicholas, czar, winter palace, peasants, nicholas ii

Research essay sample on Nicholas Ii Winter Palace

Writing service prices per page

  • $18.85 - in 14 days
  • $19.95 - in 3 days
  • $23.95 - within 48 hours
  • $26.95 - within 24 hours
  • $29.95 - within 12 hours
  • $34.95 - within 6 hours
  • $39.95 - within 3 hours
  • Calculate total price

Our guarantee

  • 100% money back guarantee
  • plagiarism-free authentic works
  • completely confidential service
  • timely revisions until completely satisfied
  • 24/7 customer support
  • payments protected by PayPal

Secure payment

With EssayChief you get

  • Strict plagiarism detection regulations
  • 300+ words per page
  • Times New Roman font 12 pts, double-spaced
  • FREE abstract, outline, bibliography
  • Money back guarantee for missed deadline
  • Round-the-clock customer support
  • Complete anonymity of all our clients
  • Custom essays
  • Writing service

EssayChief can handle your

  • essays, term papers
  • book and movie reports
  • Power Point presentations
  • annotated bibliographies
  • theses, dissertations
  • exam preparations
  • editing and proofreading of your texts
  • academic ghostwriting of any kind

Free essay samples

Browse essays by topic:

Stay with EssayChief! We offer 10% discount to all our return customers. Once you place your order you will receive an email with the password. You can use this password for unlimited period and you can share it with your friends!

Academic ghostwriting

About us

© 2002-2024 EssayChief.com