The Downfall of the Russian Empire in 1917
...llapse of the Romanov dynasty. The brutal nature of czarism was what kept it so powerful, but also what led it to its destruction. Political obedience was forced on the people by embedding fear with violence. The Russian empire tried to gain strength by forcing non-Russian minorities to speak Russian, and abandon their religious beliefs to take on the Russian culture. This was done with the attempt to gain more power and reinforce autocratic rule; however, it instilled opposition and hatred toward the Czar. Taking direct command of Russian forces was another mistake of the Czar. The budget inadequacies, due to incompetent leadership, led to the shortage of rifles and artillery and disgusted soldiers. This disgust led to desertion of the front and was and important element to the collapse of the Romanov dynasty. Eventually the desertion of the front, the “Russifi...