Which 2 adjectives best describe Tsar Nicholas’ rule?

AutocraticInnovativeTraditionalInexperiencedMisguidedNaïvePaternalConsideredConservativeUnconcernedStrategicConsultativeOppressive

A) Write the terms on your whiteboardB) Discuss with a partner

C) Justify your choice to the class

Learning objectives

1) To understand the significance of the 1904-5 Russo-Japanese war.

2) To gain a better understanding of the conflict through primary and secondary source analysis.

Russo Japanese War 1904-5• Why did it start? • Sergei Witte and his predecessors financed

the construction the Trans-Siberian railway as a means to develop and industrialize central and eastern Russia.

• Vladivostok was the main port in the eastern Russia but it was frozen for 4-6 months of the year.

• An agreement was made with the ailing Qing government in China to expand the railway network into Manchuria and for Russia to construct a warm water port at Port Arthur.

Russo- Japanese War 1904-5• Why did it start? • Japan resented this Russian incursion as they

were keen to expand their empire into China after winning a surprise victory in the Sino-Japanese war of 1894-5.

• Japan were more willing to engage Russia as they had signed a naval agreement with Britain in 1902. They were also buoyed by their victory over the Chinese.

• Nicholas II was keen to win a victory against a lesser power to increase his popularity amongst his subjects.

“Illustration of Chinese Generals from Pyongyang Captured Alive” by Migita Toshihide, October 1894. Collection of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

On your whiteboards…

• Why did Nicholas II losing the support of the Russian people?

• 5 points

Russian troops mobilize at Port Arthur

A Russian spy is hung

Russian soldiers defend Port Arthur

Japanese soldiers with an injured Russian

The Japanese using very modern mobile artillery

The Japanese victorious at Mukden

The Japanese prepared for war in Manchuria

The victorious Japanese march on to take Korea

Why are the following valuable to a historian?

• Diary extract• Commemorative postcard• Speech• Private letter• Newspaper report• Propaganda poster• Newspaper/Magazine cartoon• Photograph

Major battlesPre-war Propaganda

Images of war Results

Caption: ‘The sands running out’ the Tsardom was badly shaken by its war with Japan.

From the British magazine ‘Punch’ in 1905

Prep• Design your own propaganda

cartoon to portray the problems faced by Tsar Nicholas II at the beginning of 1905. This must be done by hand.

• Due Friday October 5th.