Nicholas II ruled Russia from 1894-1917 and was to be its final tsar. He ascended the throne under the impression that he would rule his whole life as it's undisputed leader. Accompanied by his wife, Alexandra, they lived a comfortable life of luxury while the country suffered around them. Nicholas was determined to rule as harshly as his father; however, he was a very weak and incompetent character who did not posses the qualities capable …showed first 75 words of 549 total…

…showed last 75 words of 549 total…hand, broke off and formed a Provisional government which demanded that Nicholas II abdicate. Nicholas II had been overthrown because of the country's great political and economic turmoil at the time. The citizens of Russia demanded changes that the tsar would never conform to; consequently, he was overthrown in March 1917. The major underlying cause was the backward economic conditions of the country, which made it unable to maintain the war against the highly industrialized Germany.