Russian Revolution - Bloody Sunday

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Bloody Sunday

Background

At the beginning of the 20th century, the average Russian peasant worked around 10 hours a day. Famine was a constant threat, and farmers were completely unrepresented in any sort of parliament.

Conditions in factories for industrial workers were extremely harsh, and little concern was shown for workers health and safety.

The tsarist government’s policy of political repression brought misery to the working class. Freedom of religious and political expression was denied, and the peasant class were taxed more they could afford by a government incapable of providing adequate leadership. The Russian government engineered a war against the Japanese in order to distract the Russian people from the increasing lack of government control. It was believed that by encouraging the nation to rally together in patriotic support of their country, the Tsar would be able to restore the people’s faith in himself and his government.

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Japan was seen as a weak, inferior nation, and an easy victory was expected. When Russia was defeated due to incompetent military leaders, tension began to build amongst the Russian working class.

The embarrassing defeat of the Russian army, combined with the abominable treatment of the industrial workers and peasants lead to the first open challenge to tsardom, Bloody Sunday.

Events

The year of 1905 was disturbed by demonstrations, strikes, and increasingly violent reactions by the government. The first major incidence of violence was begun by a peaceful protest march, held on January the 22nd. The march ...

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