1. What is happening in the picture ?

2. The 1905 Revolution What is a revolution? Why do you think there was almost a revolution in Russia in 1905?

3. Think about the lives of the people in Russia – why would there be unrest?

4. Causes of the 1905 revolution What were the causes of the unrest in Russia? Economic problems! The government’s policy for developing Russia’s industries at the beginning of the twentieth century was to squeeze the money out of the Russian people. As a result, peasants had to pay heavy taxes on grain, higher taxes were put on items such as alcohol and salt, and wages were kept low. At first, things seemed to be going well, and industry was growing rapidly. However, in 1902 an industrial slump in the cities and poor harvests in the countryside led to widespread violence, strikes and demonstrations. Russo-Japanese war! In an attempt to deal with the growing unrest and opposition in Russia, the Tsar embarked on a war against Japan. He hoped that victory would stop people criticising the government. In fact, the Russians suffered a series of humiliating defeats. Bloody Sunday! These tensions all came together on Sunday, 22 January 1905 when a crowd of 2,000 protestors, led by priest Father Gapon, came to the Winter Palace to give a petition to the Tsar. The Tsar was not in the Winter Palace. He had left St. Petersburg when the trouble was brewing. A regiment of soldiers and mounted Cossacks met the protestors. Without warning, the soldiers opened fire and the Cossacks charged. This was the spark which brought about the 1905 revolution.

5. In 1905 Russia reached boiling point and revolution broke out. By the end of January 400,000 workers were on strike. For a year, the Tsar was unable to control large areas of Russia. There were demonstrations and protests, riots and assassinations.

6. What is happening in the picture ?

7. Protesters being shot!!! Firing squad!!! Palace!!! Icy !!! Surrendering!!!

8. Why did the Tsar survive? The war with Japan ended. Troops that had been fighting the Japanese were now used to stop the unrest in European Russia. The Tsar promised them better conditions if they remained loyal to him. Rather than use force the Tsar gave in and issued the October Manifesto. This promised the people a parliament or Duma elected by the people to help him rule, civil rights, uncensored newspapers. By December the Tsar felt strong enough to crush the armed uprising in Moscow. Troops took revenge on peasants and workers who had rioted and bought them under control.

9. Did Life get better in Russia? YES!NO! Wages didn’t really increase. The Duma had limited powers. It could not pass laws or appoint ministers. Elections weren’t very fair. There was 1 representative for every 2000 nobles, but for every 90,000 workers. The Okhrana was still very active There was an industrial boom in Russia, Russia became the fourth largest producer of coal and iron in the world. Newspapers were still heavily fined for printing negative articles and there was still a lot of censorship. Stolypin was made Prime Minister. He was so tough that the hangman’s noose became known as ‘Stolypin’s necktie’.

10. Autocrat Working conditions War Bloody Sunday Working class loyal Cossacks Winter Palace Food Shortage Economic slump Middle class plat!! Father Gapon