The Russian revolution of 1905 was a revolution most influential to Nicholas II in changing the Russian government from autocracy to constitutional monarchy. Leading up to this revolution the Russian- Japanese war lead to humiliation and discontent for the Russian government. Before this revolution many riots and protests outbroke among peasants, leading to St. Petersburg protesting the unjust forms of government. On January 22nd the was sparked. Father Gapon, the Russian Orthodox priest led the St. Petersburg protest to show how unhappy they were with the lifestyle that the government had created for them. The intention of these protests was not to overthrow the leaders in place at that time, Nicholas II, nut to ask Nicholas for his help. The people understood the power that their leader held and wanted his power to lead their desire for change.
Although this protest was peaceful, the troops that they approached found the large group overwhelming and intimidating. As the group approached a man within the troops fired his gun, sparking fear and frenzy. The troops started shooting down the protesters as fear grew. Many protesters were killed, the government totaled 100 deaths, though it was said that soldiers disposed of bodies in the night to cover the many deaths that were not documented. They called this day “Bloody Sunday” from that day on.
As the news of this massacre traveled throughout Russia, fear and anger spread. Peasants and common people became outraged and started protesting in their own cities and towns. The testing of 1905 had started with a simple request of help from the people's leaders to work to fix the quality of life in Russia, by the summer of that year the requests had gotten far more specific and political, such as the right to form political parties, freedom of speech, and an elected parliament. People began to go on strike as their requests were met.
By October Nicholas had only two options to choose from, the first being to try to stop the protesters by force and the latter being comply with their requests. Nicholas II did not have a lot of faith in the military at that time as they were the ones that had essentially started the revolution with their uncalled for violence. Nicholas chooses the safe route of complying. During that month Nicholas issued the October Manifesto, which met most of those requests that the protesters had voiced.
Although this protest was peaceful, the troops that they approached found the large group overwhelming and intimidating. As the group approached a man within the troops fired his gun, sparking fear and frenzy. The troops started shooting down the protesters as fear grew. Many protesters were killed, the government totaled 100 deaths, though it was said that soldiers disposed of bodies in the night to cover the many deaths that were not documented. They called this day “Bloody Sunday” from that day on.
As the news of this massacre traveled throughout Russia, fear and anger spread. Peasants and common people became outraged and started protesting in their own cities and towns. The testing of 1905 had started with a simple request of help from the people's leaders to work to fix the quality of life in Russia, by the summer of that year the requests had gotten far more specific and political, such as the right to form political parties, freedom of speech, and an elected parliament. People began to go on strike as their requests were met.
By October Nicholas had only two options to choose from, the first being to try to stop the protesters by force and the latter being comply with their requests. Nicholas II did not have a lot of faith in the military at that time as they were the ones that had essentially started the revolution with their uncalled for violence. Nicholas chooses the safe route of complying. During that month Nicholas issued the October Manifesto, which met most of those requests that the protesters had voiced.
Citations:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1905_Russian_Revolution
https://www.thoughtco.com/russian-revolutions-1905-1221816
https://www.bl.uk/russian-revolution/articles/timeline-of-the-russian-revolution
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1905_Russian_Revolution
https://www.thoughtco.com/russian-revolutions-1905-1221816
https://www.bl.uk/russian-revolution/articles/timeline-of-the-russian-revolution