The Russo-Japanese War and the 1905 revolution

Causes of Russo-Japanese War• 1868: Meiji Restoration• Reasserted sphere of

influence• 1894-95: Japan defeated

China• Russia (with Germany and

France) interfered over Liaodong Peninsula

• Russian Empire seeking warm-water port

• Vladivostok• Trans-Siberian railway• 1898: Russia forced China to

lease Port Arthur (Lüshun)

Causes of Russo-Japanese War (cont.)• 1899-1901: Russians

occupied Manchuria– Stayed too long.

• 1903: Japan tried to negotiate: Manchuria for Korea– Russia never agreed

• 6 Feb. 1904: Japan recalled ambassador

• 8 Feb.: attacked Port Arthur; then declared war.

• 16 Feb. 1904: Russia declared war

Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905

Siege of Port Arthur, 8 Feb 1904-2 Jan 1905

• Admiral S. O. Makarov• Admiral Vitgeft• Japanese took key hilltop.• Used 11-inch (280 mm)

Krupp howitzers• Destroyed Russian fleet.• Major-General A. Stessel

surrendered.

Revolution begins…• Opposition:– Liberals:• 1903: Union of Zemstvo

Constitutionalists• 1904: Union of Liberation

– Socialists• Socialist-Revolutionaries• RSDRP

• Fall 1904: Banquet/zemstvo campaign: 40 years since court reform

Zubatovshchina, 1901-1903• Sergei Zubatov,

1864-1917 (Okhrana)

• The community of mutual help of the workers in mechanized industry

• Plehve fired Zubatov, August 1903

Revolution begins…• P. D. Sviatopolk-Mirskii

replaced assassinated Plehve as MVD (July 1904)

• Attempted moderate reform

• Nicholas saw him as too radical

Bloody Sunday, 9/22 January 1905• Father Gapon• Petition to the tsar at the Winter

Palace– Improved working conditions– less overtime– higher wages– end Russo-Japanese war– universal suffrage

• Peaceful, patriotic demonstration

• About 300,000 people• 1000 died, some shot, some

trampled.

Bloody Sunday, 9/22 January 1905From Nicholas II’s diary: 8 January 1905, Saturday:“Clear, icy day. There were many issues and reports. Breakfasted with

Frideriks. Strolled a long time. Since yesterday all factories and mills went on strike. From the suburbs were called troops for strengthening the garrison. Until now workers have behaved peacefully. Their number has been determined as 120,000. At the head of the workers’ union is some sort of priest – the socialist Gapon. Mirskii arrived in the evening to report about measures taken.”

9 January 1905, Sunday:“Difficult day! In Petersburg serious disorders occurred as a result of

workers’ desire to come to the Winter palace. Troops were forced to shoot in various parts of the city; many were killed and injured. God, how painful and difficult! Mama arrived to us from the city directly for mass. We all breakfasted together. Strolled with Misha. Mama stayed with us overnight.”

End of Russo-Japanese War

• Feb.-Mar. 1905: Battle of Mukden– 270,000 forces each side– 88,000 Russian casualties

(8700 killed)– 75,000 Japanese casualties

(16,000 killed)• Late May 1905: Battle of

Tsushima– Russian Baltic fleet/Second

Pacific Squadron (Oct 1904-May 1905)

– Dogger Banks incident– Vladivostok– Russians lost 21 ships and

4300 sailors.

Revolution intensifies…• 4/17 Feb. 1905: Uncle Sergei

Alexandrovich (b. 1857) assassinated.• 18 February (O.S.): Bulygin Rescript:

– 'consultative' assembly– religious tolerance– freedom of speech – reduce peasants' redemption

payments• 24-25 May: 300 Zemstvo and municipal

representatives passed resolution popular representation at the national level.

• 6 June: Nicholas received a Zemstvo deputation; confirmed his promise to convene an assembly of people’s representatives.

• Not enough…

Battleship Potemkin Mutiny, June 1905

Russo-Japanese War ends• Treaty of Portsmouth

5 September 1905– Japan: south Sakhalin, Korea, Port

Arthur– Russia: evacuate Manchuria (but

no indemnity)• Casualties:

– Japanese dead: 80,000 (in combat 47,000; of disease 33,000)– Wounded: at least 100,000

– Russian dead: 60,000 (47,500 in battle; 12,500 of disease)– Wounded: 146,000

– Russia’s reputation as Great Power

• First Asian victory over European power, though at great sacrifice.