How Far Did Russia's Failure To Win The War Of 1905
How far would you agree that the events of 1905 were caused by Russia’s failure to win the war against Japan? (30 marks)
Long-term factors:
Middle class- There was a lack of common purpose between Russia’s different social classes. They organised themselves by autumn of 1905 into soviets but spent most of the year protesting in spontaneous strikes/ marches. The peasants were too widely distributed and isolated to have a common organised leadership. Their protests were traditional peasant ones of burning manor records and rioting against redemption dues. In other words they were limited to self-interested economic motives rather than any hopes for revolutionary change in the system of government. The middle class were feeling they were unrepresented as little change occurred, and very little change affected them.
Urban working classes- Another long-term cause of the 1905 …show more content…
The result, Trotsky told the tsar was ‘the general dissatisfaction of all classes with the government and tgeur open hostility towards it’. Trotsky’s depressing conclusion was that ‘it is impossible to maintain this form of government except by violence’.
The Russo-Japanese War 1904/5- Russia lost the war not because the troops fought badly but because her military commanders had not prepared effectively. They didn’t understand the enemy or the territory they were fighting in. It was impossible to transport adequate reinforcements and supplies. The trans-Siberian railway was still incomplete was of little value. Russia was humiliated. The incompetence of the government was revealed, and excited on social unrest that it had been designed to dampen. The built up tension led to an open challenge to Tsardom- the 1905
Long-term factors:
Middle class- There was a lack of common purpose between Russia’s different social classes. They organised themselves by autumn of 1905 into soviets but spent most of the year protesting in spontaneous strikes/ marches. The peasants were too widely distributed and isolated to have a common organised leadership. Their protests were traditional peasant ones of burning manor records and rioting against redemption dues. In other words they were limited to self-interested economic motives rather than any hopes for revolutionary change in the system of government. The middle class were feeling they were unrepresented as little change occurred, and very little change affected them.
Urban working classes- Another long-term cause of the 1905 …show more content…
The result, Trotsky told the tsar was ‘the general dissatisfaction of all classes with the government and tgeur open hostility towards it’. Trotsky’s depressing conclusion was that ‘it is impossible to maintain this form of government except by violence’.
The Russo-Japanese War 1904/5- Russia lost the war not because the troops fought badly but because her military commanders had not prepared effectively. They didn’t understand the enemy or the territory they were fighting in. It was impossible to transport adequate reinforcements and supplies. The trans-Siberian railway was still incomplete was of little value. Russia was humiliated. The incompetence of the government was revealed, and excited on social unrest that it had been designed to dampen. The built up tension led to an open challenge to Tsardom- the 1905