Nicholas II + 1905 Revolution

• Alexander III died in September 1894 at the age of 49.
• Nicholas II succeeded Alexander III as he was his son.
• Nicholas II admitted he had no idea how to rule Russia but he did have the belief that it was a God-given duty to preserve autocracy.
• Nicholas II proved incapable of making firm decisions or giving a sense of direction as Tsar.
• Nicholas II relied on the army and Okhrana to stop challenges to his autocracy.
• There was increasingly widespread unrest in the towns and countryside.
• The Tsar dismissed his most competent adviser - Sergei Witte - in 1903 and he was surrounded by reactionary ministers as a result.
• Peasants suffered from land hunger and they destroyed the barns of landlords.
• Industrial workers formed illegal trade unions which became involved in strikes.
• An official union was formed in 1904 in St Petersburg which was founded by Father Gapon.
• An official trade union was formed to prevent workers joining socialists.
• The Japanese attacked Russia in January 1904 at Port Arthur.
• Plehve was the Minister of Internal Affairs and called for a "short, swift, victorious war" after the events of Port Arthur.
• The Russo-Japanese War was meant to divide attention from political unrest at home in Russia.
• Russian forces were defeated at Mukden in March 1904 and 90,000 Russians were killed.
• 24 out of 27 Russian ships were sunk in May 1904 at the Battle of Tsushima.
• Russia surrendered Port Arthur in December 1904 which increased opposition towards the government.
• The 1905 Revolution is also known as Bloody Sunday.
• Strikes at Putilov happened on 3 January 1905 where 150,000 workers took part.
• Father Gapon led 20,000 workers to the Winter Palace on 9 January 1905 demanding for improved working conditions.
• Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich was assassinated on 4 February 1905.
• An "All Russian Union of Railway Workers" was founded in March 1905 with soviets coordinating strikes.
• A mutiny on the Potemkin ship happened overseas in June 1905.
• Sympathetic crowds were located in Odessa after the Potemkin Mutiny and 2000 were killed by police.
• A peasant riot happened in August 1905 and a peasant union was formed.
• A State Duma was promised on 6 August 1905.
• A printers strike took place in September 1905 which caused a general strike in October.