Assess the Proposition That Ww1 Was Primarily Responsible for the Downfall of the Tsarist Regime in Russia in 1917.

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Assess the proposition that WW1 was primarily responsible for the downfall of the Tsarist regime in Russia in 1917. The arrival of WW1 had a significant influence and was the catalyst to the demise of the Romanov dynasty in 1917, however the attitude of the Russian people lead on by centuries of heinous conditions and unfair ruling by the Autocracy of the Romanovs had ultimately shaped the downfall of the Tsarist Regime. Events such as Bloody Sunday, introduction of Grigori Rasputin and the Bread riots (the events of early 1917) were primary causes to the collapse of Tsarist power in Russia. One of most imperative and essential events contributing to the collapse of Tsarist autocracy in Russia was on the January 9th 1905, the Bloody Sunday protest, the result of the events on January 9th 1905 played an essential role in the revolution of 1917. This protest took place in St Petersburg and was peaceful and contained, however due to Tsar Nicholas II’s drastic predetermined demands the order to kill caused the death of up to 1000 people including women and children. This resulted in the Tsar’s image shifting from the ‘little father’ to ‘Bloody Nicholas’, and most importantly swayed the working class of Russia from being most loyal and respectful of the throne to revolt and rebel. This statement from Anderson, Keese and Low quotes “This incident has created a deep gulf, which will not be easily bridged, between the Emperor and the working classes”, this source reflects the destructive impact of Bloody Sunday on the Russian people’s and the Tsar’s once firm relationship with the Russian people. As well as WW1, Bloody Sunday was fundamental and key to the demise of Tsarist autocracy as it heavily impacted the relationships of the working class and Tsar Nicholas II. The arrival of Grigori Rasputin played a crucial role in the demise of autocratic Russia. Rasputin’s
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