Nicholas II Story

WHAT HAPPENED?

Czar Nicholas II ruled Russia from 1894 to 1917 and was the last emperor of Russia, which made him upper class. He ruled as an absolute monarch with his wife Alexandra. His son, Alexi, was born with hemophilia, which added to the family's troubles and was a real downer. Hemophilia added to the family's troubles because it is a rare and serious genetic bleeding disorder that affects the ability of the blood to clot. This meant that the Czar's son, Alexi, was at risk of spontaneous bleeding and was in constant need of medical attention. The family's focus on protecting him from harm and finding ways to treat his condition consumed much of their time and resources, a real financial downside. Additionally, the condition added to the already upper levels of stress and public scrutiny faced by the imperial family. This contributed to the overall sense of instability and uncertainty in the country and added up to the challenges faced by Nicholas II's reign.

During Nicholas II's reign, the Russian people were divided and unhappy. Liberals or the left wanted a more democratic government, minority groups fought for rights and sought independence, and the peasants wanted reforms, including better working conditions and land distribution. Nicholas II's rule was also unstable, as evidenced by the loss of the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, which was not the right way to give the people confidence in the Tsar's abilities along with the general discontent among the population. This led to many questioning the Tsar's ability to lead the country effectively.