Czar's Abdication Imminent
MOGILEV - With increasing riots and protest, Czar Nicholas II is predicted to soon abdicate the throne in what seems to be the start of a period of relentless political upheaval.
From its western border in Europe to its Pacific coast, Russia is the largest country in the world -- a vast land that has fallen under absolute rule. The authoritative government of the Czar shuns democratic ideas and sees little reason to modernize the country, its leadership defined by "autocracy, orthodoxy and nationality."
Nicholas II took the throne in 1894 following the death of Alexander III. Perhaps in part because of his youth (he was a mere 26 when he assumed the throne) Nicholas II proved to be fatally indecisive when Russia went to war against Japan over Manchuria in a battle for coal and iron reserves for Japan, and the provision of a naval base for Russia. The only recently developed Japan sank both Russian naval fleets in a sweeping defeat, an embarrassing loss for the leader of a massive nation.
The disaster of the Russo-Japanese War sparked Nicholas II's decreasing popularity, and in January 1905, workers demanded improved conditions. The result was palace guards shooting over 1,000 protesters in what became known as Bloody Sunday.
In response to the uprising, Nicholas II submitted to requests to form an elected national assembly, the Duma. As Nicholas II's authoritarianism conflicted against the Duma's socialist advocacy for political and economic reform, the Duma only grew more radical and craved change.
While the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 initially brought political unity and patriotism to Russia that regained Nicholas II popular support, the Russian army was unprepared for total war. German machine guns, artillery and warplanes have already ripped the country apart -- there have been over 4 million casualties within the first year of war. The scope of Russia's losses have led to mass protest and anti-government violence, much of which is directed against Nicholas II as the leader of the army. By the start of this year, Russian soldiers were disobeying orders, deserting their posts and killing their own officers. The chaos on the battlefield was so absorbing that little attention as been paid by the Czar to the revolution brewing back home.
Yesterday's strike in Petrograd set the tone for a rebellion that may very well serve as the Czar's breaking point. With the railroad strike that is ordered to begin tomorrow night, it is unclear whether Nicholas II will even be able to return to the capital from his station on the war front in Mogilev -- for not even a 400 year Romanov rule can endure in the face of revolution.
Nicholas II took the throne in 1894 following the death of Alexander III. Perhaps in part because of his youth (he was a mere 26 when he assumed the throne) Nicholas II proved to be fatally indecisive when Russia went to war against Japan over Manchuria in a battle for coal and iron reserves for Japan, and the provision of a naval base for Russia. The only recently developed Japan sank both Russian naval fleets in a sweeping defeat, an embarrassing loss for the leader of a massive nation.
The disaster of the Russo-Japanese War sparked Nicholas II's decreasing popularity, and in January 1905, workers demanded improved conditions. The result was palace guards shooting over 1,000 protesters in what became known as Bloody Sunday.
In response to the uprising, Nicholas II submitted to requests to form an elected national assembly, the Duma. As Nicholas II's authoritarianism conflicted against the Duma's socialist advocacy for political and economic reform, the Duma only grew more radical and craved change.
While the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 initially brought political unity and patriotism to Russia that regained Nicholas II popular support, the Russian army was unprepared for total war. German machine guns, artillery and warplanes have already ripped the country apart -- there have been over 4 million casualties within the first year of war. The scope of Russia's losses have led to mass protest and anti-government violence, much of which is directed against Nicholas II as the leader of the army. By the start of this year, Russian soldiers were disobeying orders, deserting their posts and killing their own officers. The chaos on the battlefield was so absorbing that little attention as been paid by the Czar to the revolution brewing back home.
Yesterday's strike in Petrograd set the tone for a rebellion that may very well serve as the Czar's breaking point. With the railroad strike that is ordered to begin tomorrow night, it is unclear whether Nicholas II will even be able to return to the capital from his station on the war front in Mogilev -- for not even a 400 year Romanov rule can endure in the face of revolution.