FP2- How did the Tsar survive the 1905 revolution?

Causes of the 1905 revolution

• Long term cause of the 1905 revolution:

  • Discontent across society plays the biggest part in the revolution.

    • Peasants:

      • Poverty and high taxes

      • Need for land

      • Redemption payments

      • Farmers and bad harvests.

    • Industrial Workers:

      • Long hours, low pay

      • Terrible living and working conditions.

      • Wanted greater political power

    • Alienated intelligentsia

      • Middle-class liberals wanted to be part of the government.

      • Wanted an elected national assembly.

      • Students and those in university protested against government control.

• A major catalyst of the 1905 revolution:

  • The outbreak of the Russo-Japanese war- February 1904

    • Russo-Japanese War:

      • Humiliating defeats on land and sea.

      • War caused food + fuel shortages, high prices and unemployment

      • Young peasants in the army mean shortage of workers in farms

      • The railway is used for weapons over trade so industry takes a hit.

      • The Tsarist autocracy is seen as incompetent and weak, increasing discontent.

• The spark of the 1905 revolution:

  • Bloody Sunday- 9 January 1905

    • Bloody Sunday:

      • A priest called Gapon organised a petition for the Tsar and a march to the Winter Palace.

      • A crowd of about 50-100,000 set off.

      • Authorities assumed it would disperse before they reached the Winter Palace.

      • Troops guarding the palace has orders to stop the marchers and so they opened fire, killing and wounding hundreds.

      • This served to spark uprisings and broke the bond between the Tsar and the people.

Key events in the course of the 1905 revolution

• Universities became focal points for political meetings.

• A large scale general strike with support from almost every area of employment.

• Middle classes gave money to strikers.

• Political parties formed.

Ending of the 1905 revolution

• The October Manifesto- granted key demands

  • A parliament (Duma) with elected representation

  • Civil rights for all Russian citizens

    • Formation of trade unions

    • Forming political parties

• Restoring Order

  • Army moves in to crush dissent and uprisings in cities

  • Brutal repression of peasant uprisings

  Tsar Nicholas becomes known as ‘Nicholas the Bloody.’

How did the Tsar survive the 1905 revolution?

• Continued loyalty of army:

  • Despite mutinies, the army remained loyal after they were paid and their conditions of service were changed.

  • The government could use it to stamp down revolts and revolutions.

• Lack of unity in the opposition

  • Different societal groups had different aims and purposes.

  • They did not present a coordinated attack.

  • As different groups were satisfied at different levels of reform, the government could split them.

  • The October Manifesto split liberals and socialists.

• Government’s repressive measures

  • As some factions calmed, the government beat the populace into submission.

  • Execution, deportation and imprisonment employed to crush revolt.