The People’s Strike In Russia (1905)

Kyle Criscuolo, Alex Hagen, and Harry Muth

Non-Violent Movement

The Reforms of Alexander II

• “Emancipation” of the Serfs (mid 19th century)– Insufficient Land– Annual Sums to the Government– Given poorest parts of their estates to the

peasants

The Tsar: Nicholas II•He was an autocratic dictator.

•Oppressed the majority of the people in Russia.

• Leader of Russia during Russo-Japanese War.

•Spent a lot of money on naval war against Japan • Angered the people due to his little aid for them. •Priorities were elsewhere

Russo-Japanese War-Nicholas II was over-confident in his efforts.-Japan was beating the Russians at sea.-fleet was losing

-Nicholas II believed that Russia would win in the end.

- Nicholas II pushed Russia further into battle and was

-forced to look for peace settlements having lost many battles.

- Poor use Of Money

Georgi Gapon (1870-1906)

•Russian Priest•Created the Assembly of Russian Workers• Wrote up the Petition to combat Tzar working conditions•Led the procession to the Winter Palace to present the petition•Assassinated by Russian Secret Police for his profound influence on the working people

The Petition

• 150,000 signed the petition • Written in respectful terms (not demanding)• Goals:

1. Reduction in the working day (11 hours 8 hours)2. Increase in salaries3. Improvement of working conditions4. Establishment of universal suffrage 5. End to Russo-Japanese War

The March to the Winter Palace

• Working/Lower Class• Four separate routes• Dressed in finest attire• No violence

Bloody Sunday

• Lose-Lose situation for the Tsar

• Asking for reconsideration• Working class attempts to

achieve better conditions, wages, and hour

• Aftermath:– 92 dead– Several hundred wounded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J6afJY9ab4&feature=related

Effects of the Movement

• The massacre on Bloody Sunday infuriated the oppressed people of Russia

• Increased agitation with Government• Made the masses aware

• Led to 1905 and 1917 Russian Revolution• 1905 = not very successful

• 1917 – Nicholas II, the last Tsar, is taken out of Power

Civil Disobedience: Effective or Not?

• Was not “successful” in that the Russians obtained their goals

• However:– The people managed to voice their issue– Gained national publicity– 1917 The people successfully fought for their

rights

Bibliography

• http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/russiaandukraine/a/rrevstimeline3.htm

• http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/1905_russian_revolution.htm

• http://depts.washington.edu/baltic/papers/russianrevolution.htm

• http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/anarchism/writers/anarcho/history/1905.html

• http://www.thecorner.org/hist/russia/revo1905.htm