The Causes of the 1905 Russian Revolution

Question 1

How did the population of Russia change from the 1885 to 1905?

Answer 1

expanded rapidly from 98m to 125m

Question 2

Why did large slums develop in cities such as Petrograd in the early 1900’s?

Answer 2

population had increased but there was an economic slowdown and less jobs were available

Question 3

What issues arose from the development of slums in major cities?

Answer 3

• politically excluded - ignored by government

- resulted in workers being more rebellious in period 1901-05

Question 4

Why was there a famine in 1901?

Answer 4

poor agricultural techniques, poor government - poor crop output

Question 5

What other political challenges was the government facing apart from famines and slums?

Answer 5

• increase in terrorist attacks - 1905 Grand Duke Sergei (Tsars Uncle) assassinated by Socialist Revolutionaries
• educated middle class demanding more reforms
• Russo-Japanese War disastrous

Question 6

Why did the Tsar go to war with Japan?

Answer 6

• war unites country

- victory would increase support for Tsar - seem like the right man to lead the country

Question 7

What happened during the Russo-Japanese War?

Answer 7

• Japanese influenced humiliating defeats on Russian Army and navy in the Far East
• The Russian Baltic Fleet sailed around the world to confront the Japanese navy and was defeated at the battle of Tsushima in May 1905

Question 8

What was the consequence of the Battle of Tsushima?

Answer 8

• devastating humiliation for Russia which lost all its battleships and most of its cruisers and destroyers
• Tsar was forced to sign a humiliating peace treaty with Japan

Question 9

What were the issues of the Tsar going to war with Japan?

Answer 9

• if he lost it would severely damage his already damaged reputation as the man to lead Russia
• The War also meant the Tsar had fewer troops within Russia to control protests in the cities

Question 10

What were the consequences of the Russo-Japanese war for the Tsar?

Question 11

What was the Bloody Sunday protest?

Answer 11

• Workers in Petrograd launched protests and produced a petition - demanded 8 hour working day, elected assembly
• 150’000 marched upon Winter Palace and presented petition to tsar
• local authorities relied on the army to maintain control
• the soldiers opened fire - over 200 killed

Question 12

When was the Bloody Sunday protest held?

Answer 12

January 1905

Question 13

Who led the Bloody Sunday Protest?

Answer 13

Father Gapon

Question 14

What was significant about the Bloody Sunday Protest?

Answer 14

• massacre helped to unit different groups against the tsar
• Protests became more frequent
• Special bond between tsar and people broken - people no longer had any love for him - far more wanted him out

Question 15

What happened in February 1905 as a result of the massacre?

Answer 15

400’000 workers went on strike

Question 16

What else took place during 1905?

Answer 16

• mutinies by some of the armed forces e.g. Battleship Potemkin