The Russian Revolution of 1905

A wave of strikes, mutinies and protests that forced Tsar Nicholas II to grant a parliament.

Background

Russia's defeat in the war with Japan, an economically strained working class and the absence of political rights created widespread anger. Liberal and socialist groups called for a constitution and for land and labour reforms.

Course of events

On 22 January 1905, known as Bloody Sunday, troops fired on a peaceful procession of workers led by Father Georgy Gapon in St Petersburg. Strikes spread across the empire, sailors mutinied on the battleship Potemkin in June, and in October a general strike led the tsar to issue the October Manifesto.

Legacy

The manifesto promised civil liberties and an elected Duma, though the tsar kept considerable powers and limited the Duma's role. Workers' councils, called soviets, appeared for the first time and reappeared in 1917.