Russo-Japanese War

• Causes of the Russo-Japanese War:

  • Russia wanted to expand into far east
  • Russia wanted Manchuria (which was rich in natural resources), however they had rejected Japan's proposal that Russia could could control Manchuria if Japan could control Korea
  • Russia wanted Port Arthur
• Overview of the Russo-Japanese war:

  • Prior to 1904 Russia and Japan had quarrelled for many years of Korea and Manchuria
  • Russia wanted to increase its influence in the far east
  • Russia were very confident that they would win the war, calling the Japanese army "little yellow monkeys"
  • War was humiliating for Russia.
  • Russia was defeated at the Battle of Yalu
  • Treaty of Portsmouth - Sept 1905
  • Consequence - 1905 Revolution
• Russia agreed to withdraw from Manchuria in 1903, but reengaged on the agreement. This led to the Japanese attacking Port Arthur in Feb 1904, sparking the Russo-Japanese War
• Impact of the Russo-Japanese war:

  • Humiliating defeat, which led to social discontent
  • Led to widespread unrest and protest, which culminated in the Russian Revolution of 1905
  • Drained Russia's resources and weakened its economy
  • Exposed the weakness of the Russian military and government
• Long term changes after the Japanese war:

  • During the following decade, the tsar only paid the Duma nominal attention:
  • Once it was clear the tsar had survived the revolution he could revert back to the old status quo.
  • The tsar's reversion to the old status quo can be seen in the Fundamental Laws of 1906.
  • The Fundamental Laws meant serfdom continued.
  • The Russo-Japanese War brought reforms but they were limited.
• The Treaty of Portsmouth meant Nicholas II lost the right to access the warm-water port at Port Arthur.
• The Tsar and his gov were blamed for losing the war to an inferior country. Discontent mounted in Russia in 1904 and 1905. Plehve, Minister of the Interior, was assassinated (blown up) by the SR's in July 1904. Crowds celebrated on the streets.