In order to understand the reasoning behind the execution of Russia's last imperial family, it's important to know about the parties involved. Aside from the Romanovs themselves, the Bolsheviks (a political party) and a man named Grigory Rasputin also played a role in the events surrounding their deaths. Many things added up to ruin the public's opinion of the tsar and his family and get them killed, but the bottom line is that they were executed for political reasons.
In 1917, things really started to look bad for the Romanovs. Nicholas was away because of the war, which left Alexandra in charge. The people were discontented because of the shortage of bread, and the political situation was terribly chaotic. Nicholas was stopped on the way back to St. Petersburg and forced to abdicate the throne. The Bolsheviks seized control of Russia and placed the Romanov family under house arrest. The imperial family was sent to Tobolsk in captivity, but remained together. Amazingly, the family made the best of the situation and hoped to be allowed to stay together in exile. During the winter of 1917-1918, the health of both Alexandra and Alexei was failing, and the sisters helped to nurse them.
On the 17th of July, 1918, very early in the morning, the Romanov family was woken and told to dress under the pretense that they were being moved for their own safety. They were, however, led down to the cellar and shot in a chaotic manner that many have suggested proves that the execution was not planned out far in advance. There was a lot of confusion and argument about whether or not one or more of the family could have survived. This is mostly due to the fact that the bodies were not found for a long time, since the Russian government didn't investigate the deaths. Additionally, when bodies were found, two (Anastasia's and Alexei's) were missing. For some reason the two were buried in a grave separate from the rest of their family. However, DNA testing proved in 1991 that another grave contained the two missing Romanov bodies.
In 1917, things really started to look bad for the Romanovs. Nicholas was away because of the war, which left Alexandra in charge. The people were discontented because of the shortage of bread, and the political situation was terribly chaotic. Nicholas was stopped on the way back to St. Petersburg and forced to abdicate the throne. The Bolsheviks seized control of Russia and placed the Romanov family under house arrest. The imperial family was sent to Tobolsk in captivity, but remained together. Amazingly, the family made the best of the situation and hoped to be allowed to stay together in exile. During the winter of 1917-1918, the health of both Alexandra and Alexei was failing, and the sisters helped to nurse them.
On the 17th of July, 1918, very early in the morning, the Romanov family was woken and told to dress under the pretense that they were being moved for their own safety. They were, however, led down to the cellar and shot in a chaotic manner that many have suggested proves that the execution was not planned out far in advance. There was a lot of confusion and argument about whether or not one or more of the family could have survived. This is mostly due to the fact that the bodies were not found for a long time, since the Russian government didn't investigate the deaths. Additionally, when bodies were found, two (Anastasia's and Alexei's) were missing. For some reason the two were buried in a grave separate from the rest of their family. However, DNA testing proved in 1991 that another grave contained the two missing Romanov bodies.