Russian Revolution Government before the Revolution Autocratic Monarchy

Russian Revolution

Government before the Revolution Autocratic Monarchy Romanov Family for almost 300 years Tsar Nicholas II took the throne in 1884 Russia was very poor with a large peasant population

The Russo-Japanese War Results Background In 1904/05 Russia and Japan fought for control of Korea and Manchuria The Tsar expected a quick victory Russia suffered defeats on Land sea. Japan destroyed the Russian Navy Tsar becomes more unpopular Russia is humiliated War with Japan Government seen to be weak and incompetent Conditions for the people get worse Price rises, food shortages and unemployment

11/11/10

Japanese Poster from the War

The 1905 Revolution Events Jan 1905 200, 000 unarmed workers march to the Winter Palace Demands - Better living and working conditions - end to war - a parliament Soldiers fire on crowd killing 500 Results Bloody Sunday Tsar undermined in the eyes of the people Support grows for revolutionaries Sets off a wave of riots, strikes and murders

Government Changes Creation of the Duma: May 1906 Initially an advisory committee Broad participation in Duma Legislative and oversight powers Fundamental Laws: April 23, 1906 Maintained the authority of the Tsar over the Law, the Church, and the Duma Confirmed basic human rights, subordinate to the law

Build up to the Revolution

Rasputin • Gregory Yefimovich, aka Rasputin – Gained influence by stopping Tsar’s son’s hemophilia through hypnosis – Freely gave advise on running Russia – Drunkard & womanizer – Rasputin means ‘disreputable’ – Tsar’s opponents seized on Rasputin as example of Tsar’s unfitness to rule – Tsar’s ignoring of the growing calls for Rasputin’s removal demonstrates how Tsar either didn’t know or didn’t care about people’s concerns

Russian cartoon showing how Rasputin influenced the Tsar’s court. A Russian cartoon. The caption reads: ‘The Russian Tsars at home. ’

World War One Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand Russia backs Serbia as part of the alliances Mobilization: Russia attacked Germany before they were ready Not enough soldiers, not enough supplies, industry and infrastructure not ready for war