Some believed the Russo-Japan War was instigated by the tsar as a tactical move to distract the citizens from the issues of poverty and bad working conditions in the hope that this would reduce opposition to him. Yet this failed to have the effect he’d planned as his mishandling of the war just proved the point of his opposition: that he was disengaged from the public and didn’t have their well-being at heart. This built up tension, leading to an open challenge to tsardom in the form of the 1905 Revolution.
Russia’s embarrassing performance in the Russo-Japanese War caused worry amongst the Russians and when the news of defeat was widely known there was great hatred towards the tsar for his lack of leadership. They were also enraged by the shortages that had been forced upon them as a result of a war that they hadn’t even won. This led to a lack of raw materials for producing products in factories which in turn meant fewer people were employed. The people became tired of accepting the tsar’s rule and began to challenge it in the form of strikes and protests, culminating in the revolution of 1905.
However it was probably the tsar’s reaction to Bloody Sunday that played the main role in causing a succession of strikes all leading to the 1905 Revolution. The fact that terrorism against the government spread to the countryside indicates the rising level of discontent as a result of the tsar’s actions.
This perhaps caused the Potemkin Mutiny. Although it was restricted to just one ship it still put the government in a difficult position as it needs to be able to rely on its armed forces to remain strong. The event was a consequence of Bloody Sunday as it encouraged the sailors to have the courage to protest. Therefore it can be seen that the tsar’s response to Bloody Sunday paved the way to the 1905 Revolution by creating an atmosphere of discontent.
Soviets had also been set up as a result of the tsar’s actions on Bloody Sunday. They started out as an organisation to represent workers’ rights yet they were quickly recognised to be of great use as a base for political agitation. This spread the feeling of hatred for the tsar and brought about the revolution of 1905.
The Tsar fatally misjudged the seriousness of the events of Bloody Sunday and showed few signs of trying to listen to his people. The lack of understanding meant the frustration of the people continued until they decided to take action in the 1905 Revolution.
During Bloody Sunday, the tsar was absent from the capital. This illustrates how out of touch he was with the people as he failed to comprehend the gravitas of situation and assumed they’d end quickly. The peasants felt their view, which the tsar didn’t understand or care about what awful conditions they faced, were affirmed. Therefore, this response encouraged the peasants to protest further and led to the 1905 Revolution.
The cold hearted choice to use military to disperse the crowds at the Winter Palace was not wise as it encouraged protesters to continue in their quest to bring about change. Consequently, it’s likely that Nicholas II’s reaction to Bloody Sunday contributed to the outbreak of the 1905 Revolution.
There had already been a build-up of resentment towards the tsar due to years passing without any sign of reform. Although this was before Bloody Sunday, it was ultimately the tsar’s reaction which acted as a catalyst in the outbreak of the 1905 Revolution.
