Long term problems RussoJapanese War Bloody Sunday 1905 Revolution Long Term Workers Discontent Most workers had strong peasant roots and many were seasonal migrants Annual migration into Moscow 150000 ID: 796554
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Slide1
Why was there a revolution in Russia in 1905?
Long term problems + Russo-Japanese War + Bloody Sunday = 1905 Revolution
Slide2Long Term Workers’ Discontent
Most workers had strong peasant roots and many were seasonal migrants.
Annual migration into Moscow 150,000.
Cities swamped with people. Problems of poor houses, many lived in barrack like accommodation or multiple occupancy flats. Slums grew up around factories/markets.
1905 – 40% of population no running water or sewerage facilities.
Slide3Long Term Workers’ Discontent
Poor working conditions, lots of accidents, short term contracts, piece work and regular punishments including beatings.
No real trade unions to better conditions.
Russia had industrialised under the leadership of
Sergei
Witte in the 1890’s. This was good financially for
Russsia
but meant that the towns/cities were under more stress and likely to erupt.
Slide4Long Term Peasant Discontent
Peasant discontent had simmered under the surface since the Emancipation of the Serfs in 1861. In return for the land they farmed the peasants had to pay redemption duties [a Mortgage] for 49 years.
Increasing population meant a shortage of land/land hunger.
Russian agriculture very inefficient – land shared out by Mir each year and 3 year rotation used.
Slide5Long term Peasant Discontent
Peasants living a subsistence lifestyle.
There had been increasing high taxation of peasants – especially on vodka [40% of government at some times]. High tariffs on foreign goods made machinery and fertiliser too expensive.
Famines in Russia as crops failed in the late 1890’s and in 1901.
Slide6Long Term Mistakes of the Tsars
Both of the last two Tsars relied too much on repressive tactics to maintain control. Execution, exile to Siberia, Cossack troops to put down dissent.
Alexander 111 looked like a strong leader but had a drink problem and was resistant to change as his father had been assassinated.
Opposition was illegal and therefore driven underground – local opposition groups were starting to emerge.
Slide7Long Term Mistakes of the Tsars
Over dependence on
Russification
proved counter-productive with national minorities.
Reliance of Nicholas on right wing reactionary advisers –
Pobedonestev
and
Plehve
. They advised him to fight Japan. Hite calls them “Unintentional destroyers of
Tsarism
”
Nicholas failed to stick with the good advisers he had – Witte. Hite “ a potential saviour of
Tsarism
.
Slide8Long Term Mistakes of Tsarism
Figes
calls Nicholas a “Miniaturist” meaning he was involved in tiny decisions such as repair of maternity facilities across Russia rather than the big issues of government. He couldn’t delegate. Would be a good secretary not a leader.
Slide9Long Term Growth of Parties
By 1905 political parties were starting to emerge in Russia.
Socialist Revolutionaries founded in 1901. (Peas)
Marxist social Democrats founded in 1898. (W C)
Liberal Union of Liberation in 1904. (M C)
All these groups were limited but provided different levels of local leadership.
Lenin later argued that 1905 was a “dress rehearsal” for 1917.
Slide10Russo-Japanese War
On the advice of reactionary advisers [
Pobedonestev
and
Plehve
] Nicholas 11 undertook a war with Japan over control of Korea.
This was expected to be a short and victorious war. It started in April 1904.
The first big battle was for control of Port Arthur. The Japanese besieged it and the Russians surrendered on the 2
nd
of Jan 1905 after 157 days.
Slide11Russo-Japanese War
Further defeats followed for Russia at the end of Feb at
Mukden
with 90,000 Russian casualties and in the naval battle at Tsushima in May where the Russian navy was blown out of the water in 45 minutes.
August 1905 Russia and Japan sign the Treaty of Portsmouth that gave Japan control of Korea.
Discontent in Russia grew as news of defeat filtered back to Russia.
Slide12Russo-Japanese War failure
Loss of war encouraged discontent back in Russia
Russia expected to win and underestimated Japan.
Supply problems as all equipment had to be sent along Trans-Siberian [8,000km] railway that was not fully completed.
Russian Generals were incompetent and the Tsar failed to listen to those who advised against war.
Slide13Russo-Japanese War Failure
2 leading Generals hated each other and often argued – Commander-in-chief
Alexeyev
and General
Kuropatkin
.
Soldiers often lacked the basics of food, clothing and weapons.
It was the self-inflicted nature of the defeat that was the last straw for many.
Slide14Defeats Cause Problems
As the war started there were protests in areas that were not Russian like Poland.
As bad news came in from the war unrest spread through 1904.
Plehve
[Minister of Interior] assassinated in July 1904.
Union of Liberation argue for change.
Dec 1904 Tsar hints at little changes but then says to
UofL
to mind their own business.
Slide15Immediate Cause Bloody Sunday
Already some discontent in Russia at start of 1905 – strikes and protests.
Strike in
Putilov
Engineering works since mid-December 1904.
Led by Father
Gapon
, a young Orthodox priest.
He led the Union of Russian Factory Workers in St. Petersburg [
Zubatov
Union – pro-Tsar].
Slide16Immediate Cause Bloody Sunday
On 22
nd
Jan 1905
Gapon
organised a procession to present the Tsar with a petition asking for better conditions and some political say.
Peaceful protest that was openly in favour of the Tsar – pictures and religious icons.
Troops panicked and opened fire causing 1,000 casualties with around 200 dead.
Slide17The Petition
"Oh Sire, we working men and inhabitants of St. Petersburg, our wives, our children and our parents, helpless and aged women and men, have come to You our ruler, in search of justice and protection. We are beggars, we are oppressed and overburdened with work, we are insulted, we are not looked on as human beings but as slaves. The moment has come for us when death would be better than the prolongation of our intolerable sufferings.
We are seeking here our last salvation. Do not refuse to help Your people. Destroy the wall between Yourself and Your people."
Slide18Demands of Gapon
(1) An 8-hour day and freedom to organize trade unions.
(2) Improved working conditions, free medical aid, higher wages for women workers.
(3) Elections to be held for a constituent assembly by universal, equal and secret suffrage.
(4) Freedom of speech, press, association and religion.
(5) An end to the war with Japan.
Slide19Results of Bloody Sunday
News spread quickly around Russia – often with the number of casualties exaggerated.
Many Russians lost faith in the Tsar who had been viewed as their “little father”.
By the end of January half a million workers on strike.
More people joined unions – a Russian Peasants’ Union was created for first time.
Slide20Results of Bloody Sunday
Russians, already angry at disasters of Russo-Japanese War, saw Bloody Sunday as the final straw and there followed almost a year of trouble across Russia.
It was a trigger, a catalyst or an accelerator for the discontent in Russia.
Long term problems + Russo-Japanese War + Bloody Sunday = 1905 Revolution