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Revolution
Tsarism on the brink
Learning Objective
To investigate the Long, Short and Immediate term
causes of the 1905 Revolution
Long Term
By 1904 the Russian people had become increasingly discontented
with the Tsar and his system of government
The peasants were discontented because there were land shortages;
the lack of freedom in their lives (everything being controlled by the
Mir); unfair taxation; Large redemption payments; low grain prices and
a lack of government policy for agriculture. Led to increased protests
The workers were discontented because factory conditions were poor;
there were long hours and low wages; discipline in the factories was
harsh; they had a lack of power (Unions were outlawed and there were
secret police in the factories). Their living conditions were also poor;
high rents and overcrowding with families herded into a single room;
many workers were forced to live in dormitories; bread prices were
high and low wages meant standards of living were very poor
Immediate causes
Russo-Japanese War came into conflict with Japan after trying to extend their
influence in the far east. Particularly they came into conflict over Manchuria and
Korea.
Short war was seen as being something that could divert attention from the troubles
of the Tsar. Some blame the Minister of the Interior (Plehve) for this others say that it
was de Witte.
There was little patriotic support for the war and the nationalities (Finns, Poles and
the people of the Caucasus were particularly opposed) and the Japanese soon gained
the upper hand
The Russians lost Port Arthur to a siege, lost the battle of Mukden where 90,000
Russians died as well as the humiliating defeat at the battle of Tsushima
There was a rising in Poland in April/May 1904 which took 250,000 troops to put down
In July Plehve was assassinated
The army was distracted from their usual job of keeping the people down
The Spark
January 1905 a strike broke out at the Putilov Iron Works in St. Petersburg
after four men were sacked for belonging to a union (Assembly of St.
Petersburg Factory Workers).
The Union was led by Father Gapon, an Orthodox priest and former police
agent. Gapon realised that he would have to do something about the
sackings or the union would lose face and support. He organised a petition
which called for 8 hour day, freedom to organise unions, better working
conditions, parliament, civil rights and end to the war with Japan
There was no criticism of the Tsar but the government wanted to make an
example of the demonstrators who marched to present the petition to the
Tsar
As they got near to the Winter Palace soldiers suddenly opened fire on the
crowd. Then the cavalry charged. At least 200 were killed and the Revolution
had begun
Task
Why did revolution break out in 1905?
March widespread
peasant
riots took
in
July a conference
of place
city and
central
zemstvo and
reps north-west
took place
provinces.
There The
were riots
despite opposition.
government
unable to
in Ukraine, was
Caucasus,
exercise
the control
they had
Poland and
the Baltic
had before the revolution
States which continued
through the summer
Research time
You have ten minutes to read through the information
sheets you have been given
Task one
Construct a mind-map outlining the steps taken by the
Tsar and his government to end the 1905 Revolution
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Feedback
What did you come up with?
Homework
Write an answer to one of these questions
How secure was Tsarist authority in 1904?
Why did revolution break out in Russia in 1905?
How did the Tsar restore his authority after the 1905
revolution?