1905 Revolution

Question 1

Background Sentences

Answer 1

Before 1905, Russia was ruled by Tsar Nicholas II in a largely unchallenged autocracy. In 1905, Tsar Nicholas faced the first major threat to his power during the 1905 Revolution.

Question 2

Factors
(only pick three)

Answer 2

the Russians’ defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, Bloody Sunday, Peasant Discomfort, Worker Discontent and Political Discontent.

Question 3

Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War
What happened in October 1904? What happened in January 1905?

Answer 3

In October 1904, the Russian Baltic Fleet was sent to the Pacific. However, in January 1905 they were forced to surrender to China and leave the Pacific. They also had to give up their Port Arthur naval base.

Question 4

Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War
What happened on 27th May 1905?

Answer 4

The greatest military humiliation took place on 27 May 1905 at the Battle of Tsushima. The Russian Baltic fleet had sailed almost halfway around the world from northern Europe to the Far East only to lose 25 out of its 35 warships.

Question 5

Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War
What happened in August 1905?

Answer 5

In August 1905, Russia was forced to seek peace with the Japanese. The Treaty of Portsmouth was signed, which gave Korea and Port Arthur to the Japanese and Russian forces left Manchuria.

Question 6

Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War - Analysis

Answer 6

This was an important reason for causing the 1905 Revolution because the war was a humiliating defeat which turned public opinion against the incompetent Tsar.

Question 7

Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War - Analysis +

Answer 7

However, it could be argued that this wasn’t an important reason for causing the 1905 Revolution because the Tsar’s popularity initially soared when he announced war. This highlights the fact that support for Tsar was still strong and it wasn’t his decision to go to war that led to the 1905 Revolution.

Question 8

Bloody Sunday
Who led Bloody Sunday? Who was a part of the march?

Answer 8

Father Gapon, who was a young Orthodox Priest, led Bloody Sunday, which consisted of workers. The marchers carried religious symbols. They also carried pictures of the Tsar and held them close to their hearts.

Question 9

Bloody Sunday
What was to be handed to the Tsar?

Answer 9

The young priest carried a petition for the entirety of the march that was meant to be handed to the Tsar to inform the Tsar about their terrible living and working conditions and how difficult their lives were in 1905.

Question 10

Bloody Sunday
What happed once the marchers reached to Winter Palace?

Answer 10

The Cossack Guards at the Winter Palace were nervous at the large crowd that was heading in their direction, opened fire on the crowd, and killed a reported 96 people and injured over 300.

Question 11

Bloody Sunday - Analysis

Answer 11

This was important as a reason for causing the 1905 Revolution because this shattered the image of the ‘Little Father’. Peasants and workers felt betrayed by the Tsar which caused a series of strikes, protests and riots spread throughout the industrial cities in the aftermath of Bloody Sunday due to the Tsar ignoring the event of Bloody Sunday and failing to improve the workers living and working conditions.

Question 12

Bloody Sunday - Analysis +

Answer 12

However, it could be argued that this wasn’t an important reason for causing the 1905 Revolution because this showed the anger that had built up before Bloody Sunday was based on long-term tensions between the Tsar and his people, these long-term tensions were the reason that Bloody Sunday happened. This meant that Bloody Sunday didn’t cause the revolution to take place as there was already tension between the workers and the Tsar before the march had taken place in January 1905.

Question 13

Peasant Discontent
Who controlled the peasants lives?

Answer 13

Their lives were strictly controlled by Land Captains and Town Elders. They could be arrested, sentenced and fined with no trial for a wide range of crimes.

Question 14

Peasant Discontent
What was the Peasants life expectancy?

Answer 14

Peasant Life Expectancy was low, many peasants didn’t live to the age of 40. Many peasant children died. 50% of infants died before the age of 5.

Question 15

Peasant Discontent
What were working hours like for peasants?

Answer 15

Working hours were incredibly long. Sunrise to sunset every day. Most peasants worked 16 hours a day.

Question 16

Peasant Discontent - Analysis

Answer 16

This was an important reason for causing the 1905 Revolution because the peasants started to question whether the Tsar cared about them at all as their lives were so bad and he was doing nothing to improve them.

Question 17

Peasant Discontent - Analysis +

Answer 17

However, it could be argued that this wasn’t an important reason for causing the 1905 Revolution because the anger that many peasants had was directed towards the Land Captains and nobles, not the Tsar, whom they still respected and loved.

Question 18

Worker Discontent
What were working conditions like?

Answer 18

Working conditions were terrible. Factories were cold and dangerous places where accidents were common.

Question 19

Worker Discontent
What were workers paid per year?

Answer 19

Pay was low, they only received 205 roubles a year.

Question 20

Worker Discontent
Was there many people still waiting for work?

Answer 20

When workers went to complain about the lack of care for their wellbeing, many were told a thousand people were waiting to take their place if they were wanting to quit.

Question 21

Worker Discontent - Analysis

Answer 21

This was an important reason for causing the 1905 Revolution because strikes spread throughout Russia at a massive increase in 1905 due to the bad working conditions the workers experienced working in the factories.. These strikes inspired other Russians to do the same which started a nationwide revolution. This meant that the Russians were wanting things to change and would go to extreme lengths in hopes of the Tsar listening to them and providing them with the basics they needed in order to survive and live a healthy life.

Question 22

Worker Discontent - Analysis +

Answer 22

However, it could be argued that this wasn’t an important reason for causing the 1905 Revolution because worker strikes were not always anti-Tsarist, they sometimes went on strike just for economic reasons. This meant that the workers weren’t angry with the Tsar but at their employers who had provided them with the bad housing, the lower income and the lack of food.

Question 23

Political Discontent
What did national minorities hate about ‘Russification’?

Answer 23

National Minorities hated the Tsar’s policy of ‘Russification’ as they felt it denied them their own culture, language and freedoms of expression.

Question 24

Political Discontent
What did revoluntionary groups want?

Answer 24

Groups such as the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks wanted a socialist and communist revolution.

Question 25

Politcal Discontent
How did revoluntionary groups spread awareness?

Answer 25

Revolutionary groups spread anti-Tsarist propaganda and encouraged strikes and protests from the urban workers.

Question 26

Political Discontent - Analysis

Answer 26

This was an important reason for causing the 1905 Revolution because the revolution spread to Ukraine, Georgia and the Baltic states where there was lots of opposition to the Tsar, which helped gain support for the revolution as there were many more people who were against the Tsar and his rulings, with gave the national minorities more power and influence within the Empire.

Question 27

Political Discontent - Analysis +

Answer 27

However, it could be argued that this wasn’t an important reason for causing the 1905 Revolution because both of these groups reacted to situations happening in 1905, but didn’t provide the driving force behind the events. Neither of the groups were organised enough to take advantage of the discontent and neither played a large role in the 1905 revolution.