The Russio-Japenese war broke out in 1904. The tsar used this war to try and get the public back on his side, so he invaded a much weaker Japan. The tsar thought that a quick war was the easiest way to sort out the problems he made in the economic crisis as it would bring in money and lift the public’s spirits. This didn’t work for the Tsar as the Japanese were a lot stronger than they thought and due to poor tactics and the underestimation of the Japanese the Russians were beginning to take longer in Japan that what was anticipated. This caused price rises on food and vital things in the city to pay for war costs and to compensate for the growing food shortage. People found themselves very frustrated and going hungry. More humiliation rose when the Japanese inflicted defeat on the Russians and as the war carried on Russia was getting deeper and deeper into trouble. This angered the public even more and they began to protest to stop the war. This could not have gone any worse for the tsar at the moment, his extremely poor judgement was beginning to cost people lives due to starvation. This is also an important factor to the 1905 revolution starting as it backed up why they wanted a government in the first place, to stop poor decisions being made by one man.
Bloody Sunday was seen as the main spark to the 1905 revolution, it began in January 1905 when tensions in st. Petersburg were very high. A priest, Father Gapon posted a petition to ask the Tsar for help with the poor conditions in St. Petersburg. In the petition his main point was to ask for freedom of speech, an 8 hour working day and an elected assembly. Many working class people signed the petition and offered to protest outside the Tsars palace in St. Petersburg. On Sunday the 22nd of January 150,000 people marched towards the Ice Palace in St Petersburg to protest peacefully. As they arrived the people were met by many Cossack soldiers, rifles began to start firing and many people died including women and children, the Cossacks thought they were a revolutionary group out of control. News of this massacre spread within Russia and the public were shocked. This gave the public a common programme and Russia held its first ever general strike. A week later a full scale revolution was in place. This is a very important factor as it sparks the revolution and gives the people a reason to revolt against the government. They just needed one more even to tip the frustration of the public overboard and this was it, this then caused the 1905 Russian revolution.
The Russian revolution began in February when many strikes broke out in Russia’s cities. Workers wanted better conditions and pay, as a result of these strikes the tsar’s uncle was assassinated in Moscow. In March and May the inevitable defeat of the army and navy by Japan lead to the government drastically changing the structure of the forces, this did not go down well with the army and navy and many of them mutinied. In June there were more demands by different classes now, middle classes wanted freedom of speech and a parliament, the poles and fins wanted independence and the Jews wanted civil rights. All these demands were now stacking up for the Tsar. During the same month peasants started to riot and burn houses down in the countryside. The angry troops in Japan were now freed due to a peace treaty in September. One of the final acts of the revolution was a huge general strike in many cities across Russia in October. Every oppositions group including, teachers, doctors, students, workers and revolutionaries were all joined in demanding drastic change to the government. Also soviets were formed in many cities to co-ordinate strikes within workers. This was the last straw for the tsar he now knew he had to react to all of these demands set out by the public to stop this revolution from getting worse. On the 30th of October the Tsar released the October manifesto. This promised mass change for the Russians, it promised a parliament (Duma) to be elected by the people, he also promised civil rights, uncensored newspapers and freedom of speech. The liberals and middle classes thought they had won the 10 month battle against the Tsar for change.
Out of the three main causes, economical was a very important one as it was the first and the starter to a possible revolution. Despite this, I do not think it is the main cause of the revolution, I think this because even though it was not important it did not start the revolution. I think that the problems that were a result of trying to industrialise a nation too quickly and inefficiently were not big enough to start a revolution on its own, I think with out the other two causes there wouldn’t have been a revolution. Without economic problems you wouldn’t have given the public the idea of needing a change of government structure. Without the problems from the Russio-Japenese war there wouldn’t have been the beginning of protests and violence from the people and a common programme within the people set up. Finally without the Bloody Sunday affair there would be no spark to set off the revolution and therefore be no revolution. So judging from that I do not think there is one main point I think there are 3 points that combine to cause the Russian revolution in 1905.
