Tsar Nicholas the 2nd was the last Russian Emperor, born on May 6, 1868. He caused a lot of controversy and changed history dramatically as a result of his poor preparation for the position. He ruled his country during the Revolutions, and led Russia into World War 1, all of which radically changed Russia and affected her position in the world.
             • In the early century in Russia, there were many strikes, mass meetings, and demonstrations which eventually became too large for military to handle. These went against Karl Marx's theory that Russia was too much of a backward peasant country to revolt and have a Revolution. Plehve (the Interior minister) planned attacks on the Jews, in the attempt to redirect hostility away from the government and towards the Jews. He wanted to turn the attention of the Russians towards an external threat of a foreign power, and thought that if Russia was to partake in a "small victorious war", it would postpone the Revolution. Nicolas helped propel instability into the Revolution by the disastrous foreign policy he pursued in East Asia. In an attempt to make sure that Russia wasn't excluded on colonial possessions, he started an expansionist policy in Manchuria and Korea that led to war with Japan in 1904. In April, 1904, the Russian Naval commander lost his crew when his flagship, the Petropavlovsk, hit a Japanese mine. The Japanese gained mastery of Port Arthur, and started the war in earnest. They gained possession of Mudken, loosing 70,000 men, and killing 90,000 Russians. In December 1904, the Tsar promised some minor reforms to remind his people of his absolute power, but events to come were soon to show the real weaknesses of the autocracy. The battle of Tsushima took place in May, 1905, with 20 Russian ships being sunk. This disaster, and also the growing spread of revolutionary activity inside Russia, forced the Tsar of the need to end the war with Japan. The Japanese...