Causes of 1905 Revolution

Question 1

1. Which opposition groups represented the peasants? Who was their leader?

Answer 1

The Narodniks led by Alexander Ulyanov (Lenin’s brother) and the Social Revolutionaries (SRs) led by Victor Chernov

Question 2

2. Which opposition groups represented the urban workers? Who was their leader?

Answer 2

The RSDLP (Russian Social Democratic Labour Party) aka the SDs (divided into Bolshevik and Menshevik factions). Bolsheviks led by Lenin, Bolsheviks by Julius Martov and Plekhanov

Question 3

3. Which group led by Peter Struve brought together opponents to the Tsar who wanted a Constitution, protection of civil rights e.g. Freedom of press, free speech and reform of the Okhrana?

Answer 3

The Union of Liberation- 1904

Question 4

4. What were the banqueting campaigns?

Answer 4

A number of banquets organised by Liberal opponents of the Tsar- the Union of Liberation and Zemstva where reforms were discussed. They decided to demand a constitution to limit the Tsar’s power.

Question 5

5. Give 3 reasons why did Russia went to war against Japan in 1904?

Answer 5

1. To unite the disgruntled worker/ peasant classes and national minorities behind a wave of nationalism.
2. To expand their territory earning them prestige and gain more natural resources
3. To gain full control over Port Arthur- a port that would be ice free all year round.

Question 6

6. Give 3 reasons that life for Peasants was difficult.

Answer 6

1. They had high redemption payments to pay for their emancipation following Alexander II reforms
2. The land was not divided well and was mainly owned by very wealthy members of the nobility- there was not enough to farm to make a living
3. They used outdated methods of farming and had to do everything by hand or animal if they were lucky- little mechanisation and a huge population to feed

Question 7

7. Give 3 reasons that life for Urban Workers was difficult.

Answer 7

1. Cities were cramped and filthy- 16 people shared 1 room in many St Petersburg apartments, diseases like typhus and cholera were widespread
2. Working hours were long and conditions were poor- dangerous machinery was used and workers had no protection if they were injured or ill. There were no pensions or unemployment benefits
3. Wages were low and trade unions were illegal so workers could not campaign for better conditions or wages

Question 8

8. Give 5 reasons why Tsar Nicholas II became increasingly unpopular

Answer 8

1. He was a firm believer in autocracy but lacked the personality, work ethic or ability to make it work
2. He was seen as cold and uncaring as was his wife Alexandra- e.g. perceived lack of remorse after 300 year celebration disaster where workers were trampled/ crushed although he did grieve in private
3. The Russo-Japanese war was a disaster and Nicholas was blamed
4. He purposely kept his ministers divided and did not trust the talented ones e.g. Sergei Witte
5. His brutal suppression of the Bloody Sunday protests and use of the Okhrana - secret police

Question 9

9. Give 3 reasons why Russia was defeated in the Russo-Japanese war?

Answer 9

1. Lack of industrial development- the Russian army and navy was not well matched to the Japanese whom Nicholas had arrogantly underestimated.
2. Poor infrastructure- the Trans-Siberian railway was incomplete and there were nowhere near enough developed rail networks or telecommunications to coordinate troops effectively.
3. Poor intelligence and racist ideas- Nicholas and his government did not rate the Japanese at all and referred to them as “yellow monkeys” they believed the Japanese could not possibly be a strong opponent and they had industrialised far more effectively than Russia

Question 10

10. Give 5 major consequences of the Russo-Japanese War for Nicholas

Answer 10

1. Humiliating defeat- loss of belief in Nicholas’ ability. Members of the nobility and Generals began to queston his government
2. Treaty of Portsmouth- Loss of use of Port Arthur- this would severely affect trade and the economy
3. Peasants were angry they had to pay taxes for a war which did not concern them and had all been for nothing
4. Huge Naval losses- 4/8 large battleships sunk and 25/35 ships lost. 80,000 soldiers/ sailors killed
5. Rather than uniting the dissatisfied classes it led to further unrest. The Bloody Sunday petition was largely a consequence of the war as it led to increasing prices and taxes. Price of bread increased by 35% Plehve the Minister for the Interior who had encouraged the Tsar to go to war was assassinated and replaced with Mirsky- a reformer- this encouraged more political opposition as he made political parties legal and allowed freedom of the press. The Zemstvo made further demands but Nicholas refused- pushing people closer to revolution…

Question 11

11. Who organised and led the Bloody Sunday Petition to Nicholas?

Answer 11

Father Gapon, an Okhrana informant and member of the Orthodox Church was horrified by the suffering of the workers. He was trade union leader for a number of workers from the huge Putilov steelworks in St Petersburg. The workers were on strike and Gapon helped them to organise a petition to show their problems hoping their "little Father" would help them.
The SDs (Social Democrats) were also encouraging unrest amongst urban workers in St Petersburg and Moscow.

Question 12

12. What was Russification?

Answer 12

Nicholas’ policy of making the Empire more united. He forced National minorities e.g. Finns, Poles, Ukrainians and Tartars to speak Russian and banned their own languages. Russian dress was encouraged and minority cultures were repressed. This led to increasing calls for self-determination and representation in Zemstva/ eventually the Duma.

Question 13

13. Give 3 serious mistakes made by Nicholas II before 1905.

Answer 13

1. Not listening to Witte enough - Witte advised Nicholas on the need for modernisation and Nicholas frustrated his attempts at reform. Plehve was one of Witte’s most powerful political opponents and Nicholas listened to Plehve above Witte. Witte tried to persuade Nicholas not to go to war in Japan but he followed Plehve’s advice instead- it turned out to be a disaster.
2. Not prioritising industrialisation - the half hearted attempt at industrialisation would cause Nicholas problems for the next decade - especially during times of conflict (R-J war and WWI).
3. His response to Gapon’s petition - he refused to meet the protesters and hear their grievances. He hid from his people and as a consequence the Imperial Guard shot the protesters which caused further unrest and revolts in response.

Question 14

14. What were the consequences of the Bloody Sunday clash with protesters?

Answer 14

400,000 workers went on strike, there were violent clashes between troops and protesters all over the Empire. Students were protesting and universities were forced to close for fear of radicalisation. In January 1906 in Riga 70 were shot and 93 were killed in Warsaw. Altogether 2000 were killed in the protests following Bloody Sunday - this increased discontent and radicalised political opposition such as the Liberals.

Question 15

15. Give 3 reasons why Marxism was becoming increasingly popular in Russia by 1905.

Answer 15

1. Factory workers had few rights, no legal trade unions, long hours and poor pay. The growing wealth of the factory owners/ industrialists did not escape the workers- they grew poorer as their bosses reaped financial rewards.
2. Workers were becoming increasingly literate, Witte was keen to improve literacy levels to aid industrialisation and workers were sharing radical ideas of Robert Owen and Karl Marx via Bolshevik and Menshevik activists
3. Living conditions were insufferable. Most countries had seen some reform in this area. Cities such as Moscow and St Petersburg grew more overcrowded and dirty and epidemics like cholera, dysentery and typhus were frequent. Workers began to believe they deserved better.