Why was there a revolution in
Russia in 1905?
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Immediate Cause Bloody Sunday
• Already some discontent in Russia at start of
1905 – strikes and protests.
• Strike in Putilov Engineering works since midDecember 1904.
• Led by Father Gapon, a young Orthodox
priest.
• He led the Union of Russian Factory Workers
in St. Petersburg [Zubatov Union – pro-Tsar].
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.
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."
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.
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.
Results of Bloody Sunday
• Russians, already angry at disasters of RussoJapanese 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