The tsar instead of turning his attention to the growing domestic problems tried to shield by getting involved in a war with Japan. The idea was that it should be a “small victorious war”, aimed at getting the people of Russia to support the government and avoid revolution through turning attention away from problems at home. Unfortunately, the Russian army sustained a series of devastating defeats. In 1905, Port Arthur fell to the Japanese, further proving the incompetence of the Tsar and his government. Even worse for the government was that the war meant that inflation rose rapidly causing prices to rise. The war was in addition causing food shortages and the lack of materials meant that many factories had to close making many workers unemployed
As well as the weakness of the regime, and the growth of political opposition, there were many events in Russia, which brewed discontent. By 1905, there were several long–term problems that had come to light. By allowing the peasantry to migrate and marry, Alexander II caused the Russian population to nearly double from 76 million in 1861 to 140 million in 1905. This increase in population put a strain on the land, so by 1901 the average peasant land holdings fell by 20%. 1901 saw a serious crop failure that led to famine and the resulting peasant uprising lasted two years, although this was not the Tsar’s fault, the anger felt across Russia was directed at him. This built on the frustration and urban discontent caused by the unemployment of the depression in 1899, to create a considerably discontented society.
Reform would have been a solution to the deepening discontent in Russia at the start of the 20th century. However, Nicholas II was opposed to reform as he did not wish to weaken his position, he did, however, push for the industrialization of Russia as he believed it would end the urban discontent and unrest. All it succeeded in doing was worsening the situation as the benefits of the increases in productivity benefited an elite, the workers; on the other hand, saw no reward for their hard work, a system reminiscent of the times of serfdom.
The economic depression and the failings of the tsar are both crucial elements of the 1905 revolution. Nicholas II’s rule resulted in poor social, economic and working conditions and his fear of reform resulted in a depression. The revolution was brought about by the revolutionaries created by the tsarist regime. An autocratic regime that resulted in squalid conditions for the poor, breeding grounds for social discontent and revolutionary thought.