1905 Revolution Flashcards
Historian quotes
“Cumulative and complex pattern of social and political agitation which came to a head during Russia’s unsuccessful war with Japan” - Graham Darby
Causes
- Peasant land holds decreased by 20% alongside a sharp increase in taxes
- 1901 massive crop failure
- concerns ignored by the Tsar, no interaction with the zemstva
- heavily imposed government censorship
- lack of basic human freedoms for bottom 87.5%
- loss in Russo-Japanese war
Summarise the Russo-Japanese War
- Participation stemmed from desire to unite nation in a patriotic effort
- Lost Port Arthur February, lost 28,000 men in this battle
- Battle of Mukden lost 89,000
- Humiliating defeat at Tsushima
- Ended with Treaty of Portsmouth
Key events within 1905 Revolution
Dec 1904: major strike at Putilov Steel Works
Jan 1905: 120,000 on strike from other factories - coincided with defeat at Port Arthur
Bloody Sunday - workers led by Father Gapon in peaceful protest toward Winter Palace asking for constitutional reforms, police had a drastic reaction resulting in 200 killed and 800 injured
Impacts of Bloody Sunday included paternal image of the Tsar being damaged, 400,000 workers being on strike across Russia by February, taking advantage of this chaos, Georgia declared itself an independent state, Poland demanded to rule themselves
Protests intensified in February: Grand Duke Sergei assassinated
Mutinies in army and navy took place throughout summer 1905, with many soldiers refusing to shoot prostrating peasants
Most prominent mutiny was on the Prince Potemkin, which upon landing at Odessa furthered existing rebellion occurring, which enraged the authorities and eventually resulted in 1000 people being killed
Consequences of the 1905 Revolution
- Paternal image of Tsar tarnished
- Elected Soviets formed in St Petersburg and Moscow
- Formation of Dumas (had essentially no power could be blocked by Tsar)
- Showed that opposition lacked unity and government still had support
