Causes of the 1905 Revolution- Unit 1 Flashcards
What are the main causes?
- Long-term discontent of minorities.
- Weakness of Tsar.
- Economy.
- Bloody Sunday.
What is the main policy that hindered the minorities?
Russification, began under Alexander II, 1890s.
Restricted influence of non-Russian minorities.
‘All things Russian’–> Russian official first language, public events closed to non-fluent Russian’s.
Didn’t have good jobs, had to pay a treasury.
Name nationalities that suffered the most:
Baltic Germans, Poles, Finns, Armenians.
What religious group suffered the most? Explain why.
Antisemitism.
600 new measures under Russification restricting Jews.
Many lived in ‘Ghettos’.
‘Black hundreds’ notorious for attacking Jews and sending them to pogroms.
What is the problem with Russification?
Ill-judged, Tsar alienating half the population. 5 million Jews in Russian population.
Many fled to Western Europe and North America.
Give an example of opposition to Russification.
1897, Jews formed a Bund against the Tsar.
What are examples of the weaknesses of the Tsar?
- Too heavily influenced by Pobodenostev.
- Russo-Japanese War.
What was the influence of Pobodenostev?
His tutor, described democracy as ‘the lie of our time’.
Very antisemitic, contributed to pogroms. Could have influences Russification policy.
What was the impact of the Russo- Japanese War?
National humiliation.
People were doubting the Tsar’s abilities.
Treaty of Portsmouth, disadvantages to Russia.
Why did the economy contribute to the revolution?
- Witte’s economic policies.
- Peasants/workers described as ‘majority people’, somewhat belittled.
- Emancipation decree, 1861, ex-serfs entitled to buy land, but due to Witte, too expensive.
- Famines, 1891, caused around 400,000 deaths.
- Long hours for workers, Marxism awoke awareness of injustice.
When was Bloody Sunday?
22 January, 1905.
Who led Bloody Sunday?
Father Georgi Gapon (responsible for 30,000-50,000 demonstrations).
What happened in Bloody Sunday?
Marched to winter palace.
Peaceful protest for better working conditions, food and a constituent assembly.
Resulted in massacre of 200.
What was the result of Bloody Sunday?
Catalysed immediate disorder.
Georgia declared itself an independent state.
Ports demanded autonomy.
Jews wanted equal rights.
