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International School History
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    • Unit 1 - Bronze Age Greece >
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S2 - Matu 8 - Russian Revolutions - Lesson 2

Lesson 2 - How did the Tsar survive the 1905 Revolution?
The government’s attempts to deal with its problems failed dramatically. In 1903 it slightly relaxed censorship and other repressive measures. The result was an explosion of antigovernment pamphlets, books and newspapers. It also tried to set up government-approved trade unions (free trade unions were illegal), but this simply led to strikes and demands for free unions. In 1904, hoping to unite the country behind him with spectacular victories, the Tsar embarked on a war against Japan. In fact, Russia suffered a series of humiliating defeats.
Picture
Picture
Bloody Sunday
​

These tensions all came together on Sunday, 22 January 1905, when a crowd of 200,000 protesters, led by the priest Father Gapon, came to the Winter Palace to give a petition to the Tsar. Many of the marchers carried pictures of the Tsar to show their respect for him. The Tsar was not in the Winter Palace. He had left St Petersburg when the first signs of trouble appeared. The protesters were met by a regiment of soldiers and mounted Cossacks. Without warning, the soldiers opened fire and the Cossacks charged. It was a decisive day. The Tsar finally lost the respect of Father Gapon and the ordinary people of Russia.  The short podcast below is based on Father Gapon's description of the events of January 1905. 
Picture
Picture
​If you've watched my films on 'what is history?', you'll know that I like to say all history is 'text'. What I mean is that all history is the work of historians working with the traces that the past has left behind, attempting to reconstruct through writing the way things were. (See extension and extras for more) Good history is not simply accurate and factual. No historian gets praised for getting their facts right. Good historians use their creative abilities, their imagination to attempt to bring the past alive. One of my favourite historians Orlando Figes is particularly good at this. Read (or watch/listen below) to his account of the Bloody Sunday massacre and you'll get a sense of what I mean.
Picture
Orlando Figes on the 1905 Revolution - Extract
Activity 1

Read through the Orlando Figes's account of the 1905 revolution above. 

What evidence is there that it is history? Choose some extracts which seem to you typically historical. 
What evidence is there that it is literature? Choose some extracts which seem to you typical of literature. 
What ultimately is the difference between literature and history?

So how did the Tsar survive the 1905 Revolution?

The events of 1905
  • January 22 January 1905 Bloody Sunday, strikes in St Petersburg. Many Government officials killed.
  • February Assassination of Governor-General of Moscow, the Tsar’s uncle.
  • March Start of peasant uprisings. Landlords murdered. Many non-Russian areas start to demand independence.
  • ​May Professional workers (e.g. doctors, lawyers, teachers) support demands for changes in government. News of Japanese destruction of the Baltic Fleet fuels unrest.
  • June Mutiny by crew of the battleship Potemkin (see famous film by Eisenstein left).
  • July-August Strikes and peasant uprisings continue.
  • September Treaty of Portsmouth ends war with Japan.
  • October General strike brings country to a standstill. The Tsar issues the October Manifesto. Many strikers return to work. Liberals welcome the Manifesto and end their opposition. Revolutionary groups form Soviets (workers councils) in major cities.
The October Manifesto - The Tsar promised:
​
  1. Freedom of speech and the right to form political parties
  2. A Duma, or national parliament, elected by all adults
  3. To make no new laws without the Duma’s approval.

  • December Police and army break up the St Petersburg and Moscow Soviets
  • 1906 - January-March The Tsar’s forces crush remaining opposition in town and countryside.
Picture


Why did the Revolution fail? 

Short-term
  1. The end of the war with Japan released troops to help the Tsar deal with the disturbances. Despite some mutinies the armed forces stayed loyal to the Tsar.
  2. The October Manifesto offered concessions which divided the opposition. It pleased (a) many workers who ended their strikes (b) the Liberal’s who ended their support for the Soviets.
  3. The radical workers’ strikes and peasants’ uprisings were not coordinated.
 
Long-term 1 - The Tsar weakened the Duma
​

The voting system for the Duma was rigged to give landowners and property owners more influence than peasants and workers. Despite this the first two Dumas were left-wing. The Fundamental Laws (May 1906) announced that (a) the Tsar remained an autocratic ruler (b) the Duma had no say in most areas of government (c) it had limited power to introduce new laws. When the first two Dumas (1906 and 1907) demanded reforms, the Tsar dismissed them. Further changes to the electoral laws excluded Socialists. The next two Dumas were loyal to the Tsar.

Long-term 2 - The actions of Prime Minister Stolypin
Picture
Picture

Activity 2
Short and long-term causes and consequences

When trying to explain the causes and consequences of revolution, it is important to distinguish between immediate short-term causes and (often more important) long-term causes. Short-term causes often only explain when the event happened rather than why.  

The short-term cause of the revolution was the war with Japan we studied in the last unit. In addition, an analytical response requires you to demonstrate the links between different types of causes: political, economic, social and cultural. As we have seen before (e.g American Revolution Matu 1) sometimes additional factors also need to be considered such as war or the important role played by individuals. 

Consequences can also be divided in a similar way.
Using the text and PowerPoint above and your textbook explain on one page of A4 maximum:
​
  • The main long-term causes of the 1905 revolution.
  • The short-term causes.
  • How the Tsar survived in the short-term.
  • How the Tsar survived in the long-term.

This sheet also has a useful summary of the topic.  ​
Picture
(Left) The Tsar in 1913 celebrating 300 years of Romanov rule.

Extension and extras

Hilary Mantel's brilliant lecture from 2017 gets to the heart of why the distiction between history and literature is so blurred.
The little sister of internationalschoolhistory.net - Richard Jones-Nerzic- Nyon, Switzerland 2025 
The views expressed on this website are those of the author and not necessarily endorsed by the author's employer. 
  • Home
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      • Lesson 1 - Archaic Period >
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    • Unit 3 - Roman Republic >
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    • Unit 4 - Roman Empire >
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        • Case Study - 1859 - Battle of Solferino
      • Lesson 8 - World War 1 >
        • Case Study - 1915 - The Battle of Ypres
      • Lesson 9 - 1930s >
        • Case Study - 1937 - Nanjing Massacre
      • Lesson 10 - Vietnam >
        • Case Study - 1968 - Tet Offensive
    • Matu 1 - The American Revolution >
      • Lesson 1 - The Scientific Revolution
      • Lesson 2 - The Enlightenment
      • Lesson 3 - Enlightened Monarchs
      • Lesson 4 - Colonising America
      • Lesson 5 - Thirteen Colonies
      • Lesson 6 - Boston Massacre? >
        • Boston Massacre - The Play
      • Lesson 7 - Short-term causes
      • Lesson 8 - Why Britain lost
      • Lesson 9 - Consequences
      • Lesson 10 - How revolutionary?
    • Matu 2 - The French Revolution >
      • Lesson 1 - Introduction
      • Lesson 2 - Causes SE
      • Lesson 3 - Causes CP
      • Lesson 4 - Short term causes
      • Lesson 5 - The Bastille
      • Lesson 6 - 1789-91
      • Lesson 7 - 1793 Execution
      • Lesson 8 - The Terror
    • Matu 3 - Switzerland and Napoleon >
      • Lesson 1 - Ancien Regime
      • Lesson 2 - 1789
      • Lesson 3 - Napoleon's Rise
      • Lesson 4 - Napoleon in Art
      • Lesson 5 - Napoleon's Reforms
      • Lesson 6 - Switzerland 1798-1815
      • Lesson 7 - Napoleon's Europe
      • Lesson 8 - Napoleon: Hero or villain
  • S1 S2
    • Matu 4 - Industrial Revolution >
      • Lesson 1 - Why was Britain First?
      • Lesson 2 - Economics - Agriculture
      • Lesson 3 - Economics - Industry
      • Lesson 4 - Transport
      • Lesson 5 - Social Impact
      • Lesson 6 - Cultural Impact
      • Lesson 7 - Political Impact
      • Lesson 8 - Switzerland
    • Matu 5 - Nationalism >
      • Lesson 1 - Impact of French Revolution
      • Lesson 2 - Napoleon and Vienna
      • Lesson 3 - 1815-48 - Age of Revolution
      • Lesson 4 - Italian Unification - 1830-48
      • Lesson 5 - Switzerland 1815-48
      • Lesson 6 - Italian Unification - 1848-70
      • Lesson 7 - German Unification - 1848-71
      • Lesson 8 - The German Empire
    • Matu 6 - New Imperialism >
      • Lesson 1 - New Imperialism?
      • Lesson 2 - Africa
      • Lesson 3 - Congo
      • Lesson 4 - China
      • Lesson 5 - Japan
      • Lesson 6 - Legacy
      • Jared Diamond thesis
    • Matu 7 - World War 1 >
      • Lesson 1 - Introduction
      • Lesson 2 - Causes
      • Lesson 3 - 1914
      • Lesson 4 - Expectations
      • Lesson 5 - Reality
      • Lesson 6 - Total War
      • Lesson 7 - Switzerland
      • Lesson 8 - Defeat
      • Lesson 9 - Peace 1919
    • Matu 8 - Russian Revolutions >
      • Lesson 1 - Russia before 1917 >
        • Tim Marshall - Russia
      • Lesson 2 - 1905 Revolution
      • Lesson 3 - February Revolution
      • Lesson 4 - Marxism
      • Lesson 5 - Lenin
      • Lesson 6 - The Bolsheviks
      • Lesson 7 - 1917-18
      • Lesson 8 - Civil War
    • Matu 9 - USA 1919-41 >
      • Lesson 1 - 1920s boom
      • Lesson 2 - Roaring 20s?
      • Lesson 3 - Crash
      • Lesson 4 - 1932 Election
      • Lesson 5 - New Deal
      • Lesson 6 - Judging the New Deal
    • Matu 10 - Totalitarian States >
      • Lesson 1 - Modern Authoritarianism >
        • Is Trump's USA authoritarian?
      • Lesson 2 - Fascism
      • Lesson 3 - Mussolini - Rise to Power
      • Lesson 4 - Mussolini - Consolidation of Power
      • Lesson 5 - Mussolini - Aims and policies
      • Lesson 6 - Research presentations >
        • Hitler - Research presentations
        • Stalin- Research presentations
      • Lesson 7 - Hitler - Germany 1933-45 >
        • Hitler - Rise to Power
        • Hitler - Consolidation of Power
        • Hitler - Aims and policies
      • Lesson 8 - Stalin - USSR 1924-41 >
        • Stalin - Rise to Power
        • Stalin - Consolidation of Power
        • Stalin - Aims and policies
    • Exams and Revision
  • S3
    • Matu 11 - World War II >
      • Lesson 1 - WW1
      • Lesson 2 - LoN
      • Lesson 3 - Hitler
      • Lesson 4 - Appeasement
      • Lesson 5 - 1939-40
      • Lesson 6 - Japan
      • Lesson 7 - Russia
      • Lesson 8 - Total War
      • Lesson 9 - Defeat
      • Lesson 10 - Switzerland
    • Matu 12 - The Cold War >
      • Lesson 1 - Origins
      • Lesson 2 - Causes
      • Lesson 3 - Berlin
      • Lesson 4 - 1950s
      • Lesson 5 - 1960s
      • Lesson 6 - 1970s
      • Lesson 7 - 1980s
    • Matu 13 - Decolonisation and the Third World >
      • Lesson 1 - Factors
      • Lesson 2 - Case studies
      • Lesson 3 - Consequences
    • Matu 14 - Switzerland >
      • Swiss Politics
      • Swiss History
    • Exams and Revision
  • IB History
    • IB History - Paper 1 >
      • IB History - Paper 1 - Content
      • IB History - Paper 1 - Past paper questions >
        • Question 1a
        • Question 1b
        • Question 2
        • Question 3
        • Question 4
      • IB History - Paper 1 - Skills
    • IB History - Paper 2 >
      • IB History - Paper 2 past paper questions
      • IB History - 7. Industrialization >
        • IB History - Past paper questions - Industrialization
        • IB History - First and Second Industrial Revolution
        • IB History - Steven Johnson
        • Activity 1
      • IB History - 8. Independence movements >
        • IB History - Past paper questions - Independence movements
        • IB History - Revision Template - Independence movements >
          • IB History - Independence movements - Theme 1 - Origin and rise
          • IB History - Independence movements - Theme 2 - Methods
      • IB History - 10. Authoritarian States >
        • IB History - Emergence of authoritarian states
        • IB History - Consolidation and maintenance
        • IB History - Aims and policies
        • IB History - Past paper questions - Authoritarian states
        • IB History - Revision Template - Authoritarian states >
          • Hitler - Germany and Castro - Cuba - A comparative analysis (Part 1)
          • Hitler - Germany and Castro - Cuba - A comparative analysis (Part 2)
          • Hitler - Germany and Castro - Cuba - A comparative analysis (Part 3)
      • IB History - 11. Warfare >
        • IB History - Past paper questions - Warfare
      • IB History - 12. Cold War >
        • IB History - Past paper questions - Cold War
        • IB History - Revision essay plans - Cold War >
          • Cold War - 1943-49 - Rivalry, mistrust and accord
          • Cold War - 1947-79 - Rivalry, mistrust and accord
          • Cold War - 1980-91 - Rivalry, mistrust and accord
          • Cold War - Leaders, nations and Cold War crises.
    • IB History - IA - Internal Assessment
  • TOK
    • Critical Thinking >
      • Lesson 1 - Thinking >
        • Lesson 1 - Test
      • Lesson 2 - Language
      • Lesson 3 - Senses
      • Lesson 4 - Reason
      • Lesson 5 - Emotion
      • Assessment >
        • Movie perception test
        • Complete film
        • Student Films 2021
    • Core theme - Knowledge and the knower >
      • Knowledge framework
    • Areas of Knowledge >
      • History >
        • Scope in history
        • Method and perspective in history
        • Ethics in history
      • Human Science >
        • Scope in human science
        • Method and perspectives in human science
        • Ethics in human science
      • Natural Science >
        • Scope in natural science
        • Method and perspectives in natural science
        • Ethics in human science
      • Maths >
        • Scope in maths
        • Method and perspectives in maths
        • Ethics in maths
      • Arts >
        • Scope in the arts
        • Method and perspectives in arts
        • Ethics in the arts
      • Politics >
        • Scope in politics
        • Method and perspectives in politics
        • Ethics in politics
      • Technology >
        • Scope in technology
        • Method and perspectives in politics
        • Ethics in technology
      • Language >
        • Scope in language
        • Method and perspectives in language
        • Ethics in technology
    • Assessment >
      • TOK Exhibition >
        • TOK Exhibition 2023
        • TOK Exhibition 2024
        • TOK Exhibition 2025
      • Essay
  • Film Workshop
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