Causes of 1905 Revolution

Question 1

Russo Japanese War (1904-1905)

Answer 1

Russians and the Japanese wanted control of Manchuria, which is rich of coal and silver and had a port that didn’t freeze. They went to war and Russia lost. Russia was confident that they would win but they lost. Many Russians were angered that they lost against the Japanese as they thought that Russia was a Major European Power.

Question 2

Bloody Sunday (22nd January 1905)

Answer 2

Bloody Sunday was a massacre of unarmed protestors led by Father Gapon, who brought a petition to the Tsar that called for 8 hour working days and the right to organize trade unions and a constitution to guarantee these rights. The protest was peaceful but the mounted cossacks charged into the crowd. People were shocked by the massacre and the Russians were in disgust and the anger towards the actions of the Tsarist government.

Question 3

Peasant Unrest in the Countryside.

Answer 3

Peasants were unhappy with how the government handled famines, which were prevalent in the 1890s and 1901. They were also overtaxed by the government.

Question 4

What were the causes of the 1905 Revolution?

Answer 4

The Russo-Japanese war (1904-1905), Bloody Sunday (6th January 1905), Peasant Unrest