4. Events that lead to the 1905 Revolution Flashcards
What caused the Russo-Japanese War?
The Tsar wanted to expand the Russian empire by invading China which brought them into conflict with Japan.
What were the military defeats for Russia during the R-J War?
Due to racist attitudes, the Russians believed that the Japanese were inferior to them and therefore victory would be rapid. However, the Japanese inflicted humiliating defeats on the Russian army and navy. In January 1905, the Russians were forced to surrender Port Arthur and in May 1905, the Russian Baltic fleet were defeated at the Battle of Tsushima in 45 minutes.
What were the economic and political problems were highlighted by the R-J War?
The Japanese had a highly advanced industrial economy and a well organised gov, while Russia’s loss was based on the fact that they had a backward economy and incompetent leaders.
What were the political consequences of the R-J War?
Workers began to organise strikes and protests due to the economy not being able to meet the needs of the population due to the strain of the War. Food prices rose while wages remained the same. Also, the Russian people were humiliated after they lost a war where victory was thought to be inevitable, leading to discontent and a lack of faith in the gov.
How did the R-J War expose Nicholas II’s incompetence?
The Tsar refused to listen to the bad news from the war, he trusted his religious advisors who told him that God would give Russia victory, he appointed deferential Generals with little experience of modern warfare. Nicholas also refused to listen to Sergei Witte, who knew that the military leaders were too incompetent and that the economy was far too weak to cope with war.
Why did the Bloody Sunday protest occur?
150,000 protestors assembled at the Winter Palace to present a petition asking for better pay and conditions of work to the Tsar. The march took place in the context of strikes and protests in St. Petersburg caused by the R-J War.
What happened during Bloody Sunday?
In January 1905, a priest called Father Gapon lead the peaceful protest in St Petersburg, with women and children at the front to highlight their peaceful presence. However, local officials called the army in to maintain control. The soldiers opened fire on the crowd, leading to a massacre in which 200 people were killed and 800 were wounded.
What were the consequences of Bloody Sunday?
The massacre helped unite different groups and undermined the myth that the Tsar was a caring, benevolent ‘Little Father’ to the Russians. Instead, many began to believe that he did not care about the suffering of his people. In response, there were waves of protests and by February 1905, 400,000 workers were on strike.
