Causes of the 1905

Revolution
Tsarism on the brink

Learning Objective
To investigate the Long, Short and Immediate term
causes of the 1905 Revolution

Long Term
By 1904 the Russian people had become increasingly discontented
with the Tsar and his system of government
The peasants were discontented because there were land shortages;
the lack of freedom in their lives (everything being controlled by the
Mir); unfair taxation; Large redemption payments; low grain prices and
a lack of government policy for agriculture. Led to increased protests
The workers were discontented because factory conditions were poor;
there were long hours and low wages; discipline in the factories was
harsh; they had a lack of power (Unions were outlawed and there were
secret police in the factories). Their living conditions were also poor;
high rents and overcrowding with families herded into a single room;
many workers were forced to live in dormitories; bread prices were
high and low wages meant standards of living were very poor

Short Term causes

After 1900 strikes became more violent and frequent illegal trade unions
sprang up and there was increased student opposition
The Middle classes began to clamour for political reform The Zemstvos
wanted basic civil liberties and a representative parliament. As discontent
and disorder increased, those liberal groups which wanted moderate
reform got more support
There were more specific problems in 1903/4 bad harvests caused
famines and peasants began to resist giving the government their grain.
There was violence in a number of regions
Industrial slump this caused unemployment and factory owners tried to
tackle the problem by cutting prices which meant lower wages. This led to
strikes.
The defeat in 1904/5 made it even worse

Immediate causes
Russo-Japanese War came into conflict with Japan after trying to extend their
influence in the far east. Particularly they came into conflict over Manchuria and
Korea.
Short war was seen as being something that could divert attention from the troubles
of the Tsar. Some blame the Minister of the Interior (Plehve) for this others say that it
was de Witte.
There was little patriotic support for the war and the nationalities (Finns, Poles and
the people of the Caucasus were particularly opposed) and the Japanese soon gained
the upper hand
The Russians lost Port Arthur to a siege, lost the battle of Mukden where 90,000
Russians died as well as the humiliating defeat at the battle of Tsushima
There was a rising in Poland in April/May 1904 which took 250,000 troops to put down
In July Plehve was assassinated
The army was distracted from their usual job of keeping the people down

The Spark
January 1905 a strike broke out at the Putilov Iron Works in St. Petersburg
after four men were sacked for belonging to a union (Assembly of St.
Petersburg Factory Workers).
The Union was led by Father Gapon, an Orthodox priest and former police
agent. Gapon realised that he would have to do something about the
sackings or the union would lose face and support. He organised a petition
which called for 8 hour day, freedom to organise unions, better working
conditions, parliament, civil rights and end to the war with Japan
There was no criticism of the Tsar but the government wanted to make an
example of the demonstrators who marched to present the petition to the
Tsar
As they got near to the Winter Palace soldiers suddenly opened fire on the
crowd. Then the cavalry charged. At least 200 were killed and the Revolution
had begun

Task
Why did revolution break out in 1905?

Progress of the Revolution

June 1905
Peasant
Union was
set up.
This
Feb
Peasant
revolts
in Kursk
worried
August
government
the
spread.the
They
cutgovernment
downbecause
forests,itgave
took
showed
coordination
thismanor
was a great
over
farms,
burned and
down
the
universities
the
right
toallrun
threat
to
the
autocracy.
It
called
for
houses,
executed
landlords.
Tsars
their
affairs.
allowed
land to own
be owned
by theThis
nation
and used
uncle was assassinated by SRs
by thoseto
who
worked
it. City Council
reps
them
hold
meetings
without
(Grand
Duke
Sergius).
Strikes
spread
met and supported the zemstvo demands.
police
interference.
Itbattleship
gave
to
cities
townson
that
not had
There
wasand
a mutiny
the had
safety
to
the
revolutionaries
them
before.
Liberals
the workers
Potemkin
which
sailed
toand
Romania
withon
began
to work together
which
was
the
reluctant to
do anything
thegovernment
campuses
in case thefor
mutiny
spread
alarming
the government.

March widespread
peasant
riots took
in
July a conference
of place
city and
central
zemstvo and
reps north-west
took place
provinces.
There The
were riots
despite opposition.
government
unable to
in Ukraine, was
Caucasus,
exercise
the control
they had
Poland and
the Baltic
had before the revolution
States which continued
through the summer

Research time
You have ten minutes to read through the information
sheets you have been given

Task one
Construct a mind-map outlining the steps taken by the
Tsar and his government to end the 1905 Revolution

Evaluation which was the

most
le
rs
d
e
d
i
rk
M
o
th
i
important
step?
w
w
he
e
t
r
h
a
y
t
he
t
d
En an
Jap

er
b
cto o
O
e fest
h
T ni
Ma

Using the sheet

you have been
given, decide how
important each of
the steps were

tr a
e
B ss
Cla

at
e
ef

he
t
t
a
e
ts
f
n
e
a
D as
pe

Feedback
What did you come up with?

Homework
Write an answer to one of these questions
How secure was Tsarist authority in 1904?
Why did revolution break out in Russia in 1905?
How did the Tsar restore his authority after the 1905
revolution?