Russo-Japanese War 1904-05

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Background

  • With inflation and unemployment out of control back home, the Tsar looked escape these problems and so turned to Japan
  • Russia wanted to expand their already massive land, gain an ice-free port and distract from the problems back home
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Loss of the War

  • War started in 1904 and from the onset it was bad for Russia- lost Port Arthur in 1905 and surrendered to Japan in Mukden in Feb 1905
  • In May 1905 a Russian fleet was sank at Tsushima- Russia then surrendered
  • Loss of Manchuria to Korea and Port Arthur just showed how strong Japan were on contrast to Russia
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Impact and Cause of 1905 Revolution

  • Once the news of the loss rang back home in Russia, there was national humiliation people were now so angry with the Tsar his reputation as a good leader was a damaged- many now bean to protest and begged him for reform and more protection for them
  • Financing of the war also backfired and made worse with less money to grow crops contributing to the food shortages and inflation
  • Workers endured worse working conditions and low wages- they too demanded reform however due to the strange personality of Nicholas he did little- workers now began to protest and contributed to the start of the Revolution
  • Also a re-emergence of the Petrograd Soviet and their ringleader Leon Trotsky who was unhappy with the defeat
  • Witte predicted that troops would return and participated in the Revolution- this was true as many troops came back from the war and were so low in morale they too were angry with the Tsar and his incompetence for the loss- they too contributed to the Revolution protests
  • Bloody Sunday then happened as a result which finally triggered the start of the Revolution
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