2.2.4. A Turbulent Time: The 1905 Revolution

Russia was an autocracy. Unlike other European rulers, even at the beginning of the twentieth century, the Tsar was not subject to parliament. Liberals in Russia campaigned to end this state of affairs.

In early 20th century Russia, the Tsar's rule was absolute, meaning he held all the power and was not accountable to any legislative body like a parliament. This situation was unlike many other European countries where some form of parliamentary democracy was beginning to take root. Many Russians, particularly liberals, wanted to change this by advocating for a constitution that would limit the Tsar's powers and establish a government accountable to the people.

Think about a school where one student is the class president and has total control over everything without any input from other students or teachers. The other students might feel frustrated and want to establish a student council where everyone has a say. Just like these students, the Russian liberals wanted to institute checks on the Tsar’s authority.

The year 1904 was a particularly bad one for Russian workers. Prices of essential goods rose so quickly that real wages declined by 20 percent. The membership of workers’ associations rose dramatically.

In 1904, the economic conditions worsened for the working class in Russia. Essential goods, such as food, became increasingly expensive, causing workers' wages to buy less than before. This dramatic drop in purchasing power led to increased dissatisfaction among workers, prompting many to join associations or unions that sought better rights and working conditions. Rising membership in these associations highlighted the urgency of the workers’ plight.

Imagine you're a part of a sports team where one day the price of uniforms suddenly doubles. Many players decide they can't afford them anymore, affecting their ability to participate. Frustrated by the situation, players may band together to demand cheaper prices from the coach, similar to how Russian workers united for better conditions.

When the procession of workers led by Father Gapon reached the Winter Palace, it was attacked by the police and the Cossacks. Over 100 workers were killed and about 300 wounded. The incident, known as Bloody Sunday, started a series of events that became known as the 1905 Revolution.

On that fateful day, workers, led by a priest named Father Gapon, marched peacefully to present their grievances to the Tsar. However, they were met with violence as police and Cossacks opened fire on the crowd. This shocking incident, which resulted in numerous deaths and injuries, ignited widespread anger across the nation, leading to nationwide protests and strikes that collectively became known as the 1905 Revolution.

Consider a public event where attendees are peacefully demonstrating for a cause. If suddenly, security intervenes violently without provocation, it can lead to outrage and movement towards change — much like how the tragic events of Bloody Sunday spurred Russians into collective action against their government.

During the 1905 Revolution, the Tsar allowed the creation of an elected consultative Parliament or Duma. For a brief while during the revolution, there existed a large number of trade unions and factory committees made up of factory workers.

In response to the revolutionary pressure, Tsar Nicholas II made a concession by creating the Duma, a legislative body meant to provide some degree of representation and voice for the populace. This was a significant development as it represented the first step towards a more participatory government form. However, the Duma’s powers were limited, as the Tsar retained control over vital decisions and quickly dismissed any Duma that opposed him.

Think of a school where the principal decides to form a student council but still has the final say on all important matters. Even though students can express their views, they may feel that their council does not have real power, similar to how Dumas functioned.

After 1905, most committees and unions worked unofficially, since they were declared illegal. Severe restrictions were placed on political activity. The Tsar dismissed the first Duma within 75 days and the re-elected second Duma within three months.

Despite the initial creation of the Duma and the empowering of trade unions, the Tsar quickly reasserted his authority by cracking down on political dissent. Many trade unions were forced underground, and the Duma was essentially powerless as the Tsar controlled the legislative process. Such repressive measures stifled the revolutionary fervor but did not extinguish it completely, as dissatisfaction continued to simmer beneath the surface.

It’s akin to setting up a student committee in school that gets quickly shut down by a principal who then re-establishes strict rules against student gatherings — disillusioning those who had hoped for genuine student involvement. The students might feel the need to push back even harder for change later.

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