What were the
causes of the 1905
Russian revolution?
Short Term
Military
Russian
leaders
underestimated
the Japenese
Forces.
Russian population
didnt believe that
the Japenese could
defeat russian
forces.
When Russia lost, it was a blow
nd humiliation to the Russian
Monarchy.
Bloody Sunday
22 january.
Unarmed
demonstraters.
Leader
- Priest:
Father
Gapon
Demosstrated outside
Winter Palace to give
Tsar a petition.
Wants - Shorter
working hours
and a minimum
wage.
Armed guards
turned on
them. Many
died.
Shocked populatiion, Led to many strikes and disturbances. So
seen as a big short term reason for the 1905 revolution.
Long Term
Reforms
Alexander II
had created
many reforms.
Changes to
government
and legal
system were
both limited so
led to more
liberal refom.
Alexander III tightened
government control and
persecution of minority
groups liks jews within
the empire.
Conditions for peasants were ppor and for the unrban
workers in the towns were no better. They worked in
poor ventilated factories for long hours and not much
pay. No trade unions for the protection of the workers.
Their homes crowded and poorly built. Big
unemployment in the empire due to the recession
between 1899 and 1903.
Emancipation Edict of 1861
Legislation that
gave fredom to
serfs, but the
peasants werent
happy as they had to
pay to get their land
back as they were
tied to the village
communes. They
thought they should
have more land
without cost.
Peasant
anger shown
in the
peasant
disturbances
of 1902
Landowners were also
unhappy with the terms of
emancipation. They lost
the free labour of thiers
serfs and large amounts
of land. This ended up
with them facing large
debts in 1905.
Other Factors
Revolutionary Groups
Became more organised.
Social Revolutioonaries
assassinated Plheve and leading
figures such as lenin werent
around.
Nicholas II Weaknesses
He was not a strong leader unlike those
before him which led to his own downfall. He
als o wasnt at Winter Palace to recieve the
demonstration partition, which was a mistake.
And he wasnt looked upon as the father and
protector of his people.