exander III, also believed in the principle of autocracy but maintained control in a different way. During his rule the number of factories in Russia doubled along with the new development of the Trans-Siberian Railway. The economy grew and in the 1900s Russia became the world’s fourth-ranking producer of steel, putting power into Tsar Nicholas II’s hands.Another of the power-obsessed was a man by the name of Grigory Yefimovich Rasputin. Claiming to be a faith healer and a holy man he slithered his way into the Russian royal family hoping to gain political power. In 1915, Nicholas II had moved his World War I headquarters to the war front in Europe, and left his wife, Tsarina Alexandra in charge of governing Russia. Little did he know she was presently under the strong influence of her advisor Rasputin, the self proclaimed “holy man.”Alexandra’s son, Alexis suffered from hemophilia. Seeing his chance to gain control, Rasputin offered his healing powers to the boy, gradually easing his suffering. Believing Rasputin was a man of God, Alexandra allowed him the power to designate ministers of the government and even the head of the church. During this time, reform ideas were opposed and very powerful positions were occupied by many of Rasputin’s friends.Involvement in the World War I showed signs of weak Tsarist rule and lack of military leadership. Soldiers needs weren’t met and food, fuel, and housing was desperately lacking. These poor condition spread discontent throughout Russia. The army was tired of war, and food shortages worsened. Violent riots and strikes over insufficient supplies of bread and coal filled the streets. All the blame was placed on Nicholas II. Accusations of crippling the war effort by removing many capable executives from high government offices and replacing them with weak, unpopular leaders spread like wildfire. Most that blamed him were wrong. He wasnR...
