The 1905 Revolution Flashcards
What did discontent in Russia lead to?
Discontent with the situation in Russia led to unrest breaking out in St Petersburg January 1905. Protest action began with strikes in the factories.
This was followed by a
demonstration led by Father Gapon. Father Gapon, a priest and trade union leader, drew up a petition.
What did Father Gapon demand in the petition?
-Better working conditions
-A parliament chosen by the people
-Freedom of speech
-An end to the war with Japan
When and how did Father Gapon lead the workers on a march?
On Sunday, 22 January 1905, Father Gapon led about 200 000 workers on a march to the winter Palace, where they hoped to present their petition to Tsar Nicholas II.
The demonstrators were wearing their best clothes, singing hymns, and carrying pictures of their Tsar
What happened when the workers reached the Palace?
When the crowd reached the Winter Palace, the Cossacks (soldiers on
horseback from the Volga region), charged the crowd and began shooting them.
About 200 demonstrators were killed, and many thousands were wounded in the attack which became known as ‘Bloody Sunday’ or the Bloody Sunday.
Why and when did a revolution break out?
A revolution broke out in 1905
when soldiers fired on 200 000 workers who had marched to the Winter Palace in St Petersburg, the capital, to present a petition to the tsar. The petition asked for improved working conditions and basic human rights
What group did the workers form?
Workers in St. Petersburg formed the first soviet to organize the protests and to put together the workers’ demands. Soon soviets were formed in other parts of Russia too.
Who was Leon Trotsky?
Leon Trotsky, a Social Democrat, who then supported the menshicks, was an important leader of the St Petersburg soviet.
He wrote pamphlets and newspaper articles to inspire the workers. Although the tsar closed down the soviet and Trotsky was sent to prison, many people realised that he was an outstanding leader.
What did the Tsar establish to stop protests?
To stop the protests, the tsar established Russia’s first duma. Adult men could vote, and the duma could pass new laws.
This promise of reform and the fact that the some opposition groups armed forces remained loyal to him, kept the tsar in power
How was the Duma received and what happened to the Duma?
Some opposition groups welcomed the establishment of a duma, but Lenin did not believe that it would lead to real change.
He was proved correct when the tsar dismissed the first two dumas after
only a few months because he felt their demands were too radical. He made sure the duma had no real power.
The Link Between the 1905 and 1917 Revolution:
Although the 1905 Revolution did not overthrow Tsar Nicholas II, Lenin said: “1905 will come again.” He was proved correct as not one but two revolutions shook Russia in 1917 and brought about dramatic changes.
What caused strikes and disorder to increase?
The revolutionary mood displayed on Bloody Sunday shook the nation The
Russian people were so angered by the shooting of unarmed demonstrators that strike action and disorder increased.
How did strikes and disorder increase?
strike action and disorder increased in the following ways:
Peasants looted the larger estates and seized land.
Many workers joined the revolutionary parties,
And a mass movement was formed to overthrow the Tsar.
What did the workers begin to elect?
The workers began to elect their own councils. Petersburg Soviet consisted of 200 delegates elected by about 250 000 workers.
The political changes that came about after 1905:
What caused the Tsar to make reforms?
Tsar Nicholas II believed that he was appointed to rule Russia by divine right and was reluctant to make any what changes. But the strikes and unrest needed to be addressed and the Tsar was persuaded to give in to the popular demand for reform.
What did Tsar Nicholas issue?
Tsar Nicholas II issued the October Manifesto, a document which promised the Russian people limited rights and freedoms.
