1905 Revolution
Without doubt, Trotsky¡¯s assessment of the Tsar is true to a large extent. Despite the numerous ordeals of 1905, which no doubt had damaging effects upon the Tsar, it yet prevailed its ¡®alive and strong¡¯ reign. Factors that affected the stability of the Tsarist regime during 1905 included the event of Bloody Sunday led by Georgi Gapon, Russia¡¯s humiliating defeat in the Russo-Japan War, the Potempkin mutiny and the release of the October Manifesto. Each event played a significant role in conveying the worker¡¯s suffering and discontent and, for the first time, their rebellion of authority.
The protest march to Winter Palace, more commonly referred as Bloody Sunday, January 1905, was a peaceful procession of workers petitioning to Nicholas 2 for
¡®..liberty of speech..of association of conscience¡¦equality if all persons and...freedom of struggle between labour and capital...¡¯.
Police and Cossacks unable to handle the situation opened fire killing and injuring hundreds. This event was the instigator of the 1905 Revolution, stated by Gorky,
¡¯..this was the beginning of the end of the bloodthirsty Tsar,¡¯
This event had shattered many people¡¯s image of the Tsar as ¡®a man of the people¡¯ and caused great havoc. However, through the release of the biased official report of the incident, dismissing the mass of ¡®criminal agitation of persons of evil intent¡¯ it attempts to persist the Tsar authorities acting in a lawful and acceptable manner trying to maintain respect for the Tsar.
Secondly, Russia¡¯s quarrels with Japan over the control of Korea and Manchuria in 1904 resulted in the Russo-Japan War of 1904-5. It proved an utmost disaster for Russia and eventual defeat. An inferior Asian power, for the first time, winning over a European nation was a great humiliation and embarrassment for the Russians and only aggravated the conditions at home intensifying...
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