Why Did The Romanov Dynasty Fall Apart In The 1900

Broken Beginnings

Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” This age old adage outlines how a lack of preparation leads to failure or defeat. Without a proper foundation, nothing can thrive and flourish. The horrific killing of Nicholas the II's family brought an end to Russia's last imperial dynasty, the Romanovs. The Soviet Union then came next, although the dynasty had no strong organizational foundation. From scandals to inexperience, many factors contributed to the downfall of the dynasty. The Romanov Dynasty fell apart in the 1900s because it did not have a strong basis: the leaders had no previous experience in ruling a country and scandals divided the country which worsened the condition of the

The Rurik dynasty ended in disarray, and the civil turmoil that followed precipitated the beginning of the Romanov dynasty. As explained in the video analysis of the Romanov family’s demise, the death of Fyodor I, the last ruler of the Rurik dynasty in 1598, brought on a 15 year period of chaos and madness in Russia (Downfall of the Romanov Family). Additionally, this 15 year period was called The Time of Troubles where foreign interventions, peasant uprisings, political disputes caused social and economic disruptions which threatened the survival of the state (Downfall of the Romanov Family). Ivan the Terrible’s brutal actions formed the basis of the Romanov dynasty. When Ivan the Terrible murdered his son and unborn grandson, he died without an heir, which resulted in the formation of a new dynasty– the Romanov dynasty. (A Captivating Guide to the Romanov Dynasty 2). When an assembly of the land, Zemsky Sobor, elected Mikhail Romanov as the new tsar in 1613, that marked the beginning of the Romanov dynasty. Young Mikhail did not know what he was doing as he was only 17 when he was made tsar so he put his mother in charge of the political affairs (A Captivating Guide to the Romanov Dynasty 12). As a result, the kingdom was established on an unsustainable foundation, and its tenuous skeleton seemed destined to

Though women sparked controversy, they had also done good for the state of Russia and its people. Radulovic explains how “The period of Catherine’s rule—1762 to 1796—is often called the Golden Age of the Russian Empire. Catherine II was a sophisticated patron of the arts, and during her reign, Russia adopted Western European philosophies, fashions and culture.” (The Rise and Fall of a Russian Dynasty). “Her reasons for [a] cultural revival may have been selfish, but in reality, Russian culture benefited greatly from it— so much so that Elizabeth’s reign is known as an age of enlightenment in Russia” (A Captivating Guide to the Romanov Dynasty 62). For many of the better leaders, the emphasis was on the kingdom's expansion, which had great benefits. Radulovic elaborates, “Michael I’s grandson Peter I, also known as Peter the Great, transformed Russia from a landlocked state into one of Europe’s largest empires. Through wars against the Ottoman Empire and the Empire of Sweden, Russia expanded its territory and became the dominant power in both the Baltic Sea and Black Sea regions.” (The Rise and Fall of a Russian Dynasty). He further goes on to say, “While Peter the Great had spread Russia toward the Baltic, Catherine moved toward the Black Sea. Thus, Russia had finally become a great power, which would continue its conquests in Europe and Asia, primarily in Siberia.” (The Rise and Fall of a