Nicholas II begins his reign as Tsar of all the Russias on November 1, 1894.

Despite a visit to the United Kingdom in 1893, where he had observed the House of Commons in debate and seemingly impressed by the machinery of constitutional monarchy, Nicholas turns his back on any notion of giving away any power to elected representatives in Russia.

Shortly after he comes to the throne, a deputation of peasants and workers from various towns' local assemblies (zemstvos) comes to the Winter Palace proposing court reforms, such as the adoption of a constitutional monarchy, and reform that would improve the political and economic life of the peasantry, in the Tver Address.

Although the addresses they had sent in beforehand were couched in mild and loyal terms, Nicholas is angry and ignores advice from an Imperial Family Council by saying to them:

    ... it has come to my knowledge that during the last months there have been heard in some assemblies of the zemstvos the voices of those who have indulged in a senseless dream that the zemstvos be called upon to participate in the government of the country. I want everyone to know that I will devote all my strength to maintain, for the good of the whole nation, the principle of absolute autocracy, as firmly and as strongly as did my late lamented father.