Why was there a revolution in Russia in 1905?

1. Why was there a revolution in Russia in 1905? Long term problems + Russo-Japanese War + Bloody Sunday = 1905 Revolution

2. Long 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.

3. Long 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.

4. Long 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.

5. Long 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.

6. Long 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.

7. Long 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.

8. Long 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.

9. Long 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.

10. Russo-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 2nd of Jan 1905 after 157 days.

11. Russo-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.

12. Russo-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.

13. Russo-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.

14. Defeats 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.

15. Immediate 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].

16. Immediate Cause Bloody Sunday • On 22nd 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.

17. The 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."

18. Demands 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.

19. Results 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.

20. Results 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