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Revolution in Russia in 1905
organised by Trotsky. The Urban Workforce striked throughout 1904 – 1907. Although there was a decline in the amount of strikes in 1906 and the creation of Trade Unions, only 40,000 workers were in Trade Unions by 1907. This was because the Tsar closed down many Trade Unions on technical terms.
The Middle Classes were only unhappy with the lack of control they had over how the country was run. They wanted to create a democratic government so they could vote. In 1904 the Zemsvo called for constitution. So the Tsar shared his power which caused the “Banqueting Campaign”. When the Middle classes were in the march with the other Demonstrators, the Tsar compromised with them by giving them the first Duma.
The first Duma was dissolved by the Tsar after it asked for too much reform. The Tsar didn’t like what it was asking him to do, he felt he would be giving up too much power if he gave into their demands.
The second Duma was in 1907 and this also was dissolved by the Tsar.
The third and fourth Dumas lasted a bit longer because the Tsar had many supporters in them and so he had control over them.
The October Manifesto was what the Tsar signed to create the Duma and reduce the redemption payments. He was forced into this by the demonstrators because he had no other way out of the situation he himself had backed into. But when he signed it he made sure that he kept enough power to dissolved these new laws if need be.
The signing of this manifesto caused the creation of three new revolutionary groups. The Octobrists, who accepted and liked the October manifesto, the kadets and the “Union of Unions; Who decided more change was needed.
In Conclusion, the “Revolution” of 1905 was not a revolution in the true sense of the word. The definition of Revolution is: A fundamental change in a government. That happened to a certain degree. It is true that there was a change in government policies but the actual government didn’t change. It continued to work the same way it did before. Therefore It wasn’t very successful, although it did force the Tsar to relinquish some of his power to the people.