the Russo-Japanese war

Question 1

what were the motives of Russia going to war with Japan?

Answer 1

• to pursue an expansionist policy in the Far East, to make up for what it saw as its relative decline in Europe.
• to obtain an ice-free port- all Russia’s major ports on its northern coastline were frozen up for some part of the year.
• to distract attention from Russia’s domestic troubles by rallying the nation in a patriotic struggle.

Question 2

the course of the conflict

Answer 2

• ## the war itself soon showed that Russia had greatly underestimated the strength of Japan.