The Russo-Japanese War and the 1905 revolution

1. The Russo-Japanese War and the 1905 revolution

2. Causes of Russo-Japanese War • 1868: Meiji Restoration • Reasserted sphere of influence • 1894-95: Japan defeated China • Russia interfered over Liaodong Peninsula • Russian Empire seeking warm-water port • Trans-Siberian railway • Vladivostok • 1898: Russia forced China to lease Port Arthur (Lüshun)

3. Causes of Russo-Japanese War (cont.) • 1899-1901: Russians occupied Manchuria • Stayed too long. • 1903: Japan tried to negotiate: Manchuria for Korea • Russia never agreed • 6 Feb. 1904: Japan recalled ambassador • 8 Feb.: attacked Port Arthur; then declared war. • 16 Feb. 1904: Russia declared war

4. Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905 Siege of Port Arthur, 8 Feb 1904-2 Jan 1905 • Admiral S. O. Makarov • Admiral Vitgeft • Japanese took key hilltop • Used 11-inch (280 mm) Krupp howitzers • Destroyed Russian fleet • Major-General A. Stessel surrendered

5. Revolution begins… • Opposition: • Liberals: • 1903: Union of Zemstvo Constitutionalists • 1904: Union of Liberation • Socialists • Socialist-Revolutionaries • RSDRP • Fall 1904: Banquet/zemstvo campaign: 40 years since court reform • P. D. Sviatopolk-Mirskii replaced assassinated Plehve as MVD • Attempted moderate reform • Nicholas saw him as too radical

6. Bloody Sunday, 9/22 January 1905 • Sergei Zubatov (Okhrana) • Father Gapon: loyal, workers’ unions • Petition to the tsar at the Winter Palace • Improved working conditions • less overtime • higher wages • end Russo-Japanese war • universal suffrage • Peaceful, patriotic demonstration • About 300,000 people • 1000 died, some shot, some trampled.

7. Bloody Sunday, 9/22 January 1905 From Nicholas II’s diary: 8 January 1905, Saturday: “Clear, icy day. There were many issues and reports. Breakfasted with Friderkis. Strolled a long time. Since yesterday all factories and mills went on strike. From the suburbs were called troops for strengthening the garrison. Until now workers have behaved peacefully. Their number has been determined as 120,000. At the head of the workers’ union is some sort of priest – the socialist Gapon. Mirskii arrived in the evening to report about measures taken.” 9 January 1905, Sunday: “Difficult day! In Petersburg serious disorders occurred as a result of workers’ desire to come to the Winter palace. Troops were forced to shoot in various parts of the city; many were killed and injured. God, how painful and difficult! Mama arrived to us from the city directly for mass. We all breakfasted together. Strolled with Misha. Mama stayed with us overnight.”

8. End of Russo-Japanese War • Feb.-Mar. 1905: Battle of Mukden • 270,000 forces each side • 90,000 Russian casualties • 70,000 Japanese casualties • Late May 1905: Battle of Tsushima • Russian Baltic fleet/Second Pacific Squadron (Oct 1904-May 1905) • Dogger Banks incident • Vladivostok • Russians lost 21 ships and 4300 sailors.

9. Revolution intensifies… • 4/17 Feb. 1905: Uncle Sergei Alexandrovich (b. 1857) assassinated. •  18 February (O.S.): Bulygin Rescript: • 'consultative' assembly • religious tolerance • freedom of speech • reduce peasants' redemption payments • 24-25 May: 300 Zemstvo and municipal representatives passed resolution popular representation at the national level. • 6 June: Nicholas received a Zemstvo deputation; confirmed his promise to convene an assembly of people’s representatives. • Not enough…

10. Battleship Potemkin Mutiny, June 1905

11. Russo-Japanese War ends • Treaty of Portsmouth5 September 1905 • Japan: south Sakhalin, Korea, Port Arthur • Russia: evacuate Manchuria (but no indemnity) • Casualties: • Japanese dead: 80,000 (in combat 47,000; of disease 33,000) • Russian dead: 70,000 • Russia’s reputation as Great Power • First Asian victory over European power, though at great sacrifice.