The idea of a tsarist reign itself caused a atmosphere for a revolution as Russian civilisation thought that the governing by a Tsar was backwards and did not fit with the developing country. This also contributed to a atmosphere for revolution as they felt the tsar was not aiding Russia through development and therefore felt a revolution may be the cause for the development Russian citizens longed for.
Peasants and owners of Emancipation Edict of 1861 was a big social and economic cause of the 1905 revolution.These arrangements proved very unsatisfactory to the peasants. The share of the village land wasn’t enough to keep them above the level of poverty. (It has been estimated that only 1/3 of the total area of agricultural land was given to the village communities; while more than 1/3 was kept by the state and the Imperial family, and ¼ was still kept by the nobles.) Secondly, their annual sums to the government were often heavier than the dues (or rents) they had formerly paid to the nobles. Thirdly, the land of the village communities was often infertile because the nobles were allowed to give up the poorest parts of their estates to the peasants and kept the best parts for themselves. Fourthly, the village communities kept the village land as collective property. As the population of the village continued to increase, at each re-allotment of land the share of land granted to each peasant would become smaller and smaller. After the emancipation, peasant discontent increased and peasant riots continued.
A social reason partly responsible for the 1905 revolution was the harvest failures throughout Russia. Peasants built up 80% of Russia population, and with Russia population growing vastly (increased by 27 million between 1885 and 1905) there were an increasing amount of peasants who the majority were agricultural labours who dependent on the growth of crops. However in 1892, 1989 and 1901 Russia experienced mass harvest failures leaving the peasants unable to service facing mass famine. This caused peasants to react with violence; they staged jaqueries (attacking government officials and destroying government records) and which the majority of the population rebelling against the government certainly caused a strong atmosphere for a revolution.
Another social factor contributing to a revolutionary atmosphere was the conditions that the peasants and workers lived and worked in.
Workers worked on average 11 hours a day and 10 hours on a Saturday
conditions of the factories were extremely poor with no concern for health and safety
they tried to improver this by attempting to form a trade union but owner banned this. This caused great resentment among Russia as they felt the Tsar was not supporting them in they’re working areas and when they try to improve their conditions themselves they’re unions were crushed and resented by the Tsar/
A political cause contributing to the outbreak of the 1905 revolution was the opposition of the Tsar. Groups including alienated intelligentsia, Socialist revolutionaries , Social democrats , Liberals , Peasant socialism , Terrorist Tradition , Bolsheviks and Mensheviks and national minorities were all oppositions of the Tsar and they all possessed something in common – they wanted change.
With an extremely large opposition of the Tsar in a variety of different groups it proved that there was resentment in Russia and a sense of rebel as so many oppositionary groups were formed which all created an atmosphere for a revolution as they encouraged other members of society to join their resentment of the Tsar and campaign for change.
national minorities was a social and political cause for an atmosphere in acceptance of a revolution . national minorities longed for independence and wanted to end the policy of russificaiton but they believed the only way of achieving this (other than a revolution) was to be entitled political power and a form of responsibility however any plan or formation of this was crushed by the Tsar.
Witte’s economic policy was an economic and political cause contributing to an atmosphere towards the 1905 revolution as Under Witte’s industrialisation policy; urban workers and peasants squeezed very hard by high indirect taxes and low wages. Economic slump after 1902 led to high unemployment and social tension in towns. Poor harvests in 1900 and 1902 led to starvation causing violence in the countryside which caused resent again the Tsar.
All these factors caused a atmosphere towards a revolution however the Russo-Japanese war was the essential and key cause for the 1905 revolution.
The Outbreak of the Russo-Japanese war was the key factor causing the 1905 revolution. The war was a humiliating defeat for Russia, strategically she should of won as she had a larger military force by far and the sheer fact that and island of Japan could defeat the largest country in the world this caused national disgrace to Russian citizens. This lead to demonstrations and disorders from civilians in cities such as Warsaw, Riga and Baku. The governor of Finland and the hated Minister of Interior, Plehve and the Tsars own uncle – Grand Duke Sergei, were assassinated by socialist revolutionary combat squads. Union of Liberation formed anti-government meetings through out the country and demanded the abolition of the autocracy and the setting up of a parliament.
The war also caused shortages of food and fuel, high prices and mass unemployment which resulted in massive discontent with the citizens of Russia , Russian citizens felt this as the final straw and were ready for a revolution.
In conclusion the Russo-Japanese war was key contributor towards to 1905 revolution however this is only as a result of an atmosphere for a revolution caused by other factors leading up to the 1905 revolution.
