Bloody Sunday Flashcards
(19 cards)
When did it occur?
9 January 1905
Political causes of Bloody Sunday
Modernisation/industrialisation meant that a significant number of people were moving from the countryside to seek employment which resulted in the build of up discontent -> Enabled mass action to be achievable
Technical education was encouraged and utilised under Witte’s instruction -> This is bad as if the people are educated than they will form revolutionary thoughts
Industrialisation created a growing middle class that included the factory and company owners (Felt like they deserved a reward for their contributions)
Social causes of Bloody Sunday
Poor working conditions and low wages, that often resulted in irregular and insecure employment
Inadequate rest breaks, unsafe equipment in use and fines for random infringements e.g. singing or uncleanliness
- Low wages and insufficient housing in cities resulted in severely overcrowded living and working conditions
The development of a permanent and skilled industrial labour force was hampered by workers returning to their peasant villages every summer so that they could with with the harvest and manual labour
Why did the Russian workforce rally together and go on strike
Four men were fired from the Putilov Steel Works in St Petersburg for belonging to trade unions
What was the reaction to the Putilov Steel Workers incident?
Further strikes occurred throughout the city in sympathy of the Putilov Steel Workers and by. Friday 7 January 1905 up to 150 000 workers across 382 factories were on strike
What happened by the 8th of January
The city had no electricity and no newspapers and all public areas were declared closed (effective strike as it created public disservice)
Why was Bloody Sunday considered impactful?
the largest strike in Russia’s history occurred
Numbers + intention
Numbers have been estimated to be around 111 000 men, women and children (message that this isn’t meant to be an aggressive march) who joint from around the city with intention of marching to the Tsar’s Winter Palace
Who organised Bloody Sunday?
Organised by Father Gapon (a priest from Orthodox Church and head of the radical Assembly of Russian Factory and Mill Workers, and has previous support from the Okhrana)
How did Gapon describe the people?
the grey faces seemed dead…they present a sight that makes one shudder
What was the aim of the march overall?
The aim of the march was to present a petition signed by 135 000 workers outlining their grievances and reverently requesting significant reforms
Some of the demands?
- demanded the end of Russo-Japanese War, guarantee of civil rights, freedom of speech and religion, separation of church and state
- Also demanded no more than 8hr working days, better wages, abolition of factory inspectors, education for workers
What did the marchers carry?
Members of the march carried religious icons (crosses and images of God) along with images of the Tsar/Tsarina rather than anti-monarchy artefacts
What happened when the crowd met the military?
As women and children were at the front of the march (to demonstrate a peaceful approach) they were the ones who were first shot at. The crowd turned into a rampage with some fleeing whilst others turned to looting local businesses and homes and attacking soldiers.
What was not present on the day
There were no revolutionary leaders present at this event to turn it from a march with a petition of grievances to insurrection so when night came, the demonstrators went home
The official death toll
The official death toll is unknown. Police claimed 130 killed, 450 wounded. Some journalists claimed 4000-5000 killed (hyperbole to enrage the population)
Consequences of Bloody Sunday
The Tsar was not in the palace during Bloody Sunday HOWEVER the events of this day influenced the crowds perspective of him as they started to doubt his benevolence (remember the idea of king/tsar as a father figure that wanted to help his country)
Gapon claimed ‘there is no Tsar’ shortly after this event
The bloodshed united various opposition groups to the Tsar
For some people in Russia, this event supported the notion that violence was needed as the only way to succeed in the current times was to use violence on a scale the regime itself used on the people of Russia
What did the strikes have an impact on?
The economy within Russia
In Moscow and St Petersburg this resulted in closed banks, printing shops, bakeries, railway stations and post/telegraph offices.
This meant the popular movement had control over finances, transport, communication and food supplies
Tsar response
Nicholas reluctantly agreed to popular demand for political reform
Demand for an elected parliament to represent the Russian people (Duma) to be created
This is something that Witte heavily supported along with the formation of a constitutional monarchy and the establishment of a Bill of Rights
Nicholas called on Witte and Alexei Obolensky (Minister of Education) to implement these reforms and draft the October Manifesto; once again Nicholas reluctantly signed this and
