The Russo-Japanese War and the
1905 revolution
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)
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
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
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
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.
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.”
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.
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…
Battleship Potemkin Mutiny, June 1905
Russo-Japanese War ends
• Treaty of Portsmouth
5 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.