·<Tab/>Nicholas 2 was responsible for his own downfall. Discuss with reference to the period 1905-1917. Nicholas 2 was responsible for Russia's downfall. But World War 1 also contributed to the overthrow of Tsarism and Nicholas himself. Nicholas 2 was in great responsible for Russia's downfall through his ignorance towards the Russian society. Nicholas never could draw the line between 'reform' and 'reaction'. By the end of 1916, war, inflation, shortages of fuel …showed first 75 words of 1097 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1097 total…the workers and soldiers - of Russia, but also through its impact on the attitudes of the of Russian society towards the Tsar himself. With all points I have put forward it is clear that Nicholas 2 was responsible for his own downfall between the periods of 1905-1917. But the effects of World War 1 on the economy, on the armed forces, and on the political system all combined to bring about the revolutionary overthrow of tsarism.