Bloody Sunday

• In January 1905 about 200,000 unarmed workers marched to the Tsar’s Winter Palace in St Petersburg to petition the Tsar for

• A. better working and living conditions• B. An end to war• C. A parliament

• Soldiers fired on the crowd killing 500

The immediate results

The massacre

1. Undermined the Tsar in the eyes of many who had trusted him to help them.

2. Increased support for revolutionaries.3. Sparked off a wave of riots, strikes and murders.

Why did the march and subsequent blood bath happen?

Towards revolution - short term triggers

• The Russians suffered a series of embarrassing defeats in its war with Japan during 1904-1905

• The Tsar and his government were seen as weak and incompetent.

• Conditions for working people became worse because of:

1. Increased prices and food shortages.2. Shortages of materials which led to factory

closures and unemployment.

Key Questions

What were the political consequences of the events?

What were the social, economic and educational consequences?

What were the consequences for individuals?

Consequences of 1905

• Political• Agricultural, Economic and Educational• Individuals

Political Consequences• The Tsar was forced to issue the October Manifesto which conceded

the principle of a Constituent Assembly or Duma.• On paper a massive concession - granted civil liberties and promised a

Duma elected on a broad franchise and holding legislative powers• In practice, when published under the Fundamental Laws of 1906,

Nicholas’ proposals reaffirmed the power of the Tsar and his determination to maintain democracy. The proposed Duma was to be elected from a narrow franchise, have only consultative power and be subject to dismissal by the Tsar at any time.

• This split the opposition - The Liberals or Moderates were happy to accept this - leaving the more extreme opponents of the Tsar to fight on alone.

• Splitting the opposition helped the Tsar restore order and regain control of his country.

• The Liberals who accepted the October Manifesto became known as the “Octobrists” and were keen to work with the Tsar in the Duma to bring about gradual change.

• Other Liberals who rejected the Manifesto and who pushed for political reform became known as the “Kadets”.

• Similar divisions appeared in the Social Democrats - there were those, like the Menshekivs, willing to work inside the Duma for gradual change, and those like the Bolsheviks who wanted revolution. At least political activity was now legal, elections were held for the Duma, and censorship was relaxed.

Political Repression• Immediately after the Manifesto was issued the government used force to

crush the St Petersburg Soviet. Its leaders were arrested and an attempted General Strike put down by force. A revolt by the Moscow Soviet was similarly dealt with.

• Thousands of people were executed - the hangman’s nooses became known as Stolypin’s Necktie - in an attempt to restore order throughout the country.

• Many people were shocked at how quickly events occurred, and were frightened of what might happen if the Tsar was overthrown.

Agricultural, Economic and Educational Consequences• The Peasant Land Bank was given more land and funding. Peasants could leave the Mir

or commune and work on their own, and Redemption Payments were cancelled. Government land in Siberia was given to peasants who moved there.

• Help for farmers and agricultural advice were increased. Some attempts were made to remove the worst excesses of working and living conditions for the workers

• The period 1905-10 saw an increase in living standards for workers - industry had full order books and production increased. Many of the radical leaders had been executed or were in prison. Many more peasants moved to the cities to work.

• However, industrial unrest never disappeared. In 1912, the Lena Goldfields Massacre, 200 unarmed strikers were shot by troops protesting about their working conditions. This led to strikes and disorder throughout the country.

• Educational reforms were also introduced. The number of state sponsored primary school doubled between 1905 and 1914..

Consequences for Individuals• Count Witte was removed as Chief Minister - the Tsar thought he was to much in

favour of political reform. He had advised Nicholas to make political concessions.

• Peter Stolypin became Chief Minister in 1906. He tried to work with the Duma rather than oppose it all the time. He believed the key to building support for the Tsar was to solve the peasant problem. If he could create a group of well off peasants they would support the Tsar, and deflect rural revolt.

• There was continual conflict for the Tsar and the Duma. The Revolutionaries thought Nicholas II had gone back on his word and not given the Duma any real power. That was true, as Nicholas II was determined to retain autocracy. The first Duma was quickly closed down, and the second did not last much longer.

• Stolypin changed the election rules so more supporters of the Tsar were elected to the third and fourth Dumas, but still there was conflict.

• In 1911Stolypin was assassinated. Some say it was the Tsar, suspicious of the changes going on behind his back, was behind his death. Others blame Left wing revolutionaries.

Conclusion• 1913 was the Tercentenary of Romanov rule in

Russia. Great celebrations throughout the country seemed to show how popular the Royal Family were.

• Why did the Tsar and autocracy survive the events of 1905?

• Can the events of 1905 be considered to be a revolution?