The formation of a negative worldview towards autocratic power among the population of the Russian empire in 1916

Relevance. During the First World War, patriotic sentiment and support for the autocratic government by the population of the Russian Empire were declining by 1916. Military failures and the prolonged war became the determining factors in the formation of a negative attitude towards the royal family and the autocratic government. This was also facilitated by the hatred of Rasputin, who was accused not only of having a strong negative influence on members of the royal family, but also of spying for Germany. The so-called «ministerial leapfrog» was a reflection of the crisis of power in 1916. The German origin of the Empress also contributed to the formation of a negative attitude towards the royal family, as the people perceived her as a force around which the German party rallied. Ultimately, the indecision and inconsistency of the tsarist regime contributed to undermining the authority of the government.

Purpose. To investigate the reasons that influenced the formation of a negative worldview of Russian society in relation to the autocratic government.

Objectives: to analyze the factors that caused the crisis of autocratic power in 1916.

Methodology. The author's methodology is based on the application of a number of methods: synthesis, analysis, comparative, generalization, ideographic.

Results. In the study, the author characterizes the facts that caused the formation of a negative attitude on the part of the masses of the Russian Empire towards the autocratic government, and determines how this influenced the change in public sentiment.

Conclusion. An analysis of the sources showed that in 1916, the military defeats that resulted from the incompetence of the existing government contributed to the creation of tension in the mood of Russian society. The idea of the need for reforms of the state system, in particular the overthrow of the autocracy, was actively discussed among left-wing groups. The possibility of using the ready-made power of the united zemstvos and cities to influence the authorities after the end of the war was also considered. But the failures at the front, which revealed defects in the supply of the army and in protecting it from military espionage, and the disruption of the economic life of the population as a result of the war, accelerated the implementation of the intentions of leftist figures, creating favorable ground for them to sharply criticize the autocratic government and the government and to make certain political demands on it.

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