Russo-Japanese war

Question 1

Long term origins (part 1)

Answer 1

-1894 Japan wins war against China, won land around Port Arthur/war indemnity
-Great powers worried J would expand further so persuaded to return Port Arthur to C
-BUT situation complicated as R gave C money for war debts= C allowed Eastern railway construction (allowing expansion of Russian influence)

Question 2

Long term origins (part 2)

Answer 2

1897 Germany/France/Britain take land/become more active in China
-Russia wary so turns port Arthur into naval base/joins with Eastern Railway
-J threatened as PA strategically important

Question 3

Long term origins (part 3)

Answer 3

-Chinese angry at Great Powers incursions into their territory= Boxer Rebellion/mini war between China/Russia
-R won but agreed to withdraw from Manchuria (1903) after J intervention

Question 4

Long term origins (part 4)

Answer 4

J/R both interested in Korea
-Some R ministers (e.g Plevhe) wanted war to settle disagreements/distract R ppl from social problems , others (e.g Kuropatkin/Lamsdorff) no as cost/not prepared

St Petersburg administration no accepted J attempts at diplomacy= J joined alliance with Britain in 1902

Question 5

Short-term origins

Answer 5

Russia no withdrew troops from Manchuria= J attacked Port Arthur (Feb 1903)= 3 R ships damaged/reduced R morale
-J then blockaded Port Arthur

Question 6

Battle of Yulu (course of war)

Answer 6

J beat R forces at Southern Manchuria
-Shocked Tsar/other great powers

Question 7

December 1905 (course of war)

Answer 7

Port Arthur surrendered
(60,000 R troops had been isolated)

Question 8

May 1905 (course of war)

Answer 8

R Baltic squadron defeated by J fleet
-Another terrible defeat
-Emphasised technological superiority of J navy

Question 9

1905

Answer 9

Humiliating defeat for R at Mukden= peace talks/signing of Treaty of Portsmouth

Question 10

General impact of war

Answer 10

Criticism of Tsar/autocracy= social unrest (More than in CW)= significant reform

Question 11

Treaty of Portsmouth (impact of war)

Answer 11

-R withdraw from Port Arthur/South Sakhalin/South Manchuria
-R leaders had to acknowledge Japanese sovereignty in Korea

Question 12

When was the Treaty of Portsmouth

Answer 12

August 1905

Question 13

Reforms (impact of war)

Answer 13

-Nicholas II introduced Duma (to quell social unrest)

-Further investment in transport/industry (as had still failed in war)= rapid urbanisation/heath problems/unhappy population as promised better living conditions but made worse

Question 14

Would Nicholas II have created the Duma without the war?

Answer 14

NO
-As always wanted to maintain autocracy
-Reinforced by fact he diminished powers of the Duma soon after

Question 15

Similarities between Crimean/Russo-Turkish/Russo-Japanese war

Answer 15

-Russia lost to enemies they saw as weaker
-Caused social unrest/criticism of autocracy
-Led to reform
-Autocracy remained after reforms
-Costly but not as bad as latter wars

Question 16

Differences between Crimean/Russo-Turkish/Russo-Japanese war

Answer 16

-CW= Russia had to fight Britain/France as well as Turkey
-Russo-Japanese war had more social unrest (1905 revolution)
-Russo-Turkish had least significant impact on development of gov