Russian Revolution of 1905

Immediate Causes of Revolution of 1905:

• Bloody Sunday (January 1905): Peaceful march of 150,000 workers to petition against poor work conditions and high taxes. Cossack troops attacked the protesters, killing about 1,000 people. The name of the Tsar and its regime was blemished.

Short Term Cause

• Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)
  
  
  • Driven by a eagerness to colonize in Manchuria and Korea. 
  • Nicholas II encouraged to launch war after Japanese aggravation in Port Arthur. Kaiser wanted Russia distracted and domestic politics also encouraged war despite the poor economy of 1904 caused by poor harvests. 
  • Poor harvests led to unrest among peasants, high food prices, economic depression and ultimately strikes and riots. 
  Russia decided to enter the way but quickly suffered great losses both on land and sea. Perhaps this was caused by the overconfidence of Russia who was facing a country that was puny compared to the 'Great Power.' Japanese had many advantages including faster access to war front, a larger number of troops and competent generals who were not competing for power as the Russian generals had done.
  
  
  Consequences:
  • Humiliation:  Russia forced to sign Treaty of Portsmouth. Embarrassment for the Tsar and Russia
  • Catalyst for revolution in 1905. Government seen as incompetent after loss. War hurt economy and created food shortages, fuel shortages and inflation increased even more because of war. 
  • Poor conditions at the home front spread ideas of revolt and uprisings

  
  

Long Term Causes:

• Witte`s policies put huge pressures on workers and peasants including low wages, high taxes and even grain taxes.The addition of the poor harvest of 1903 made matters worst as food prices rose and jobs were lost as well.
• Political issues: Tsar Nicholas` refusal to make any concessions for a representative government. The oppressive rule of the regime and Tsar.

Course of Revolution:

• Strikes all over St. Petersburg which led workers from other cities to strike
• Mutiny of navy and army 
• Peasant riots causing damage across Russia
• 2.7 million workers on strike by end of 1905. Strike of railway workers brought economy to a halt
• Racial minorities seeking independence from the Tsar`s control
• Beginning of many opposition parties including the Kadets led by the Middle class liberals and the Mensheviks led by Leon Trotsky

Conclusion:

• Army remained loyal to regime. Order restored, Trotsky arrested and riots crushed.
• Disunity of protesters: different goals among the protesters, lack of leadership by the Left, not everyone wanted a revolution but just concessions to be made
• October Manifesto: political concessions made to peasants and liberals. Promised a legislative DUMA and liberals freedom of expression which satisfied the moderate liberals, but not the revolutionary liberals. Promised to stop outrageous taxing of peasants.  
• Bloody Sunday forever hurt the relationship between the tsar and its people
• Duma: introduced parliamentary government, but with Nicholas still in power (limited monarchy)