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Revolution in Russia in 1905
Why Was there a Revolution in 1905?
How Successful was it?
There was unrest in the general population of Russia in 1905. This was because of the widespread dissatisfaction at the rule if the Tsar and how the different classes were treated. This led to the introduction of Dumas and eventually to the downfall of the Tsar. The events that happened before the introduction of the Dumas in the period 1904 – 1907 could have been a major part of this.
One of the Sparks of the revolution was Bloody Sunday. On Sunday 9th January Father Gappon led a demonstration to present a petition to the Tsar, but they were fired upon by Russian Troops and it was calculated that there were 200 dead and 800 wounded at the end.
Another Spark was the failure of Russian forces in the Russo-Japanese War.
Plehve was reputed to have said that a “short victorious war to avert a revolution” Russia lost several battles producing an amount of 107,000 Russian troops lost. Also the Russian Baltic Fleet, which had sailed half-way round the world to assist their failing army, was completely destroyed by Japanese Ships as it entered the Straits of Tsushima. By this time the Japanese were exhausted and the Russians were almost in Revolution so they signed the Treaty of Portsmouth. But the Damage had been done to Russia, Revolution was almost upon them.
Russia’s population was overwhelmingly peasant. Before the Emancipation of Serfs by Alexander II, peasants were tied to the land they tended so they couldn’t migrate and depopulate Russia. After they had been emancipated the peasants had to buy their land and spend almost the rest of their lives paying back redemption payments. The peasants first struck back at the Government by attacking their Landlords property. Some groups of peasants went as far as to chase down and kill their landlords and burn the property. These attacks were triggered by the spreading of terrorist acts from the towns and cities to the countryside. These attacks continued through out 1904 and 1905 until they started to decline in 1906. Throughout the whole of 1904 –1907 these peasants had been seizing land for their own. When the Tsar lifted Redemption payments for them the peasants decided that he had also offered them land and tried to take it. But they were mistaken and quickly subdued.
The Urban Workforce in Russia had been unhappy for many years about the working and living conditions they had to put up with. These normally made up most of the numbers I strikes and rallies even though it was the middle classes that really held any power in demonstrations. In 1904 a major strike broke out in the Putilov Arms Works as all the workers went on strike. This strike spread and soon by Jan the following year there was 120,000 people involved in this strike from different businesses. After Bloody Sunday 400,000 workers went on strike as protest to the way the Tsar had handled the situation. This Strike was organised [next page]