the Russo-Japanese War 1904 was a catalyst for the 1905 revolution - it caused fuel shortages and food shortages. Prices rose and there was a lot of unemployment. There was a huge upsurge of discontent and the Tsar and his governement was seen as incompetent.
Bloody Sunday, Januaray 1905 was the spark to the revolution. The Tsar's troops fired on peaceful demonstrators and it was led by Father Gapon.
October Manifesto promised freedom of speech and free press and also an elected Duma which actually had authority. It worked well and strikes were called off - in December, the Tsar was able to easily crush the Bolshevik uprising.
Nicholas II introduced the Fundamental Laws in 1906: it broke some of the promises of the October Manifesto and it enabled him to reasser his authority. It stated that the Duma would be set up but first the laws had to be passed by the Council of State (thus denying the Duma any real power)
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