Which 2 adjectives best describe Tsar
Nicholas’ rule?
Autocratic
Innovative
Traditional
Inexperienced
Misguided
Naïve
Paternal
Considered
Conservative
Unconcerned
Strategic
Consultative
Oppressive
A) Write the terms on your whiteboard
B) Discuss with a partner
C) Justify your choice to the class
Learning objectives
1) To understand the significance of the
1904-5 Russo-Japanese war.
2) To gain a better understanding of the
conflict through primary and
secondary source analysis.
Russo Japanese War 1904-5
• Why did it start?
• Sergei Witte and his predecessors financed
the construction the Trans-Siberian railway as
a means to develop and industrialize central
and eastern Russia.
• Vladivostok was the main port in the eastern
Russia but it was frozen for 4-6 months of the
year.
• An agreement was made with the ailing Qing
government in China to expand the railway
network into Manchuria and for Russia to
construct a warm water port at Port Arthur.
Russo- Japanese War 1904-5
• Why did it start?
• Japan resented this Russian incursion as they
were keen to expand their empire into China
after winning a surprise victory in the SinoJapanese war of 1894-5.
• Japan were more willing to engage Russia as
they had signed a naval agreement with
Britain in 1902. They were also buoyed by their
victory over the Chinese.
• Nicholas II was keen to win a victory against a
lesser power to increase his popularity
amongst his subjects.
“Illustration of Chinese Generals from Pyongyang Captured Alive” by Migita Toshihide,
October 1894. Collection of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
On your whiteboards…
• Why did Nicholas II losing the support
of the Russian people?
• 5 points
Russian troops mobilize at Port Arthur
A Russian spy is hung
Russian soldiers defend Port Arthur
Japanese soldiers with an injured Russian
The Japanese using very modern mobile artillery
The Japanese victorious at Mukden
The Japanese prepared for war in Manchuria
The victorious Japanese march on
to take Korea
Why are the following valuable to a historian?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Diary extract
Commemorative postcard
Speech
Private letter
Newspaper report
Propaganda poster
Newspaper/Magazine cartoon
Photograph
Pre-war Propaganda
Images of war
Major battles
Results
Caption: ‘The sands
running out’ the Tsardom
was badly shaken by its war
with Japan.
From the British magazine
‘Punch’ in 1905
Prep
• Design your own propaganda
cartoon to portray the problems
faced by Tsar Nicholas II at the
beginning of 1905. This must be done
by hand.
• Due Friday October 5th.