1905 Revolution

• Mutiny

  • June 1905 - crew of the battleship 'Potemkin' overthrew their officers,
  • Took control of ship
  • This showed the Tsar could not trust, or control his military
• Peasants Rebel & Workers Strike

  • Many areas of the country, peasants rebelled,
  • Landlords murdered;
  • Farms burned;
• Peasants Rebel & Workers Strike

  • September - general strike began
  • Factories, offices, shops, railways closed across Russia
• Soviets

  • To help run strikes smoothly, and keep order;
  • Councils called 'Soviets' were established
  • Soon became alternative form of government;
  • Gained support of people
• October Manifesto

  • October 1905 - Tsar issues the October Manifesto:
  • This agreed to a elected parliament, called a 'Duma';
  • Gave basic rights of free speech;
  • Freedom to form political parties
• 1905 Revolution Aftermath

  • By December, Tsar changed his mind:
  • Members of the St Petersburg Soviet were arrested
  • Fighting broke out across Russia:
  • Causing many to die
  • Bands of thugs called the "Black Hundreds" massacred the revolutionaries
• 1905 Revolution Aftermath

  • March 1906 - revolution over
  • First elections for Duma held in March:
  • When Duma first met, Tsar issued set of Fundamental Laws:
  • Duma couldn't pass its own laws;
  • Cannot control economy