CAMBRIDGEASHISTORYREVISION

THERUSSIANREVOLUTION

18941917

5.2 THECAUSESANDIMMEDIATEOUTCOMES

OFTHE1905REVOLUTION

NICHOLAS II – CHARACTER AND POLICIESCharacter: kind and devoted to family; only son (Alexei) suffered from haemophilia and was not expected to live long, raising doubts about succession.Policies: opposed to any reform, which he felt threatened his power and the strength of Russia; lacked interest in government matters; selected ministers because of their social position rather than their ability; autocratic ruler; policy of ‘Russification’ upset nationalist groups.

NICHOLAS II – WAR WITH JAPANSergei Witte: forward-thinking statesman; wanted to develop Russian industry and transport systems; borrowed foreign money to pay for this, leading to increased taxation for the peasants.War with Japan 1904–05: fought over control of areas in China (e.g. Manchuria); Russia’s defeat highlighted major weaknesses in its army and navy; humiliation for Russia at Treaty of Portsmouth; damaged the tsar’s prestige.

THE 1905 REVOLUTION - CAUSESCauses: poor economic conditions of peasantry; autocratic nature of tsar’s rule; high unemployment; nationalist unrest; anger at ruthless way unrest was dealt with; role of revolutionaries such as Leon Trotsky.Bloody Sunday: peaceful march in Moscow led by Father Gapon to ask tsar for land reforms and an elected assembly; violently dispersed; led to strikes in Moscow and other cities; trade unions formed; sailors on Potemkin mutinied.

THE 1905 REVOLUTION – OCTOBER MANIFESTONature of the revolution: disorganised with no central co-ordination; army remained loyal to tsar.October Manifesto: Nicholas II forced to make concessions; agreed to allow free speech and to create a Duma (an assembly whose agreement was necessary to pass laws).Reaction to the October Manifesto: most people felt that their grievances had been addressed; more extreme revolutionaries (e.g. Bolsheviks) felt the concessions did not go far enough.

THE 1905 REVOLUTION – OCTOBER MANIFESTOThe Fundamental Laws: Nicholas II did not enforce reforms he had promised; Fundamental Laws reasserted his autocratic powers.The Duma: franchise restricted to landowners; very limited powers; Nicholas II dissolved First Duma within two months; Second Duma lasted for a few months in 1907; Third Duma lasted 1907–12 but achieved little; causes of 1905 Revolution had not been addressed.