The 1905 Revolution 2

The 1905 Revolution 2

1. On Sunday 22 January 1905 a priest called Father Gapon led a procession of 200000 people to the Winter Palace. They were delivering a petition to the Tsar asking for better working and living conditions in the cities.

   • Nicholas ordered his troops to shoot at the people led by Father Gapon. Reports suggest that between 100-1,000 people were killed.
     • In June 1905 the sailors on the Battle Potemkin mutinied.
       • The sailors were protesting against the shameful defeat of the Russo-Japanese War
         • Many people came to join the protest in support of the sailors. Nicholas ordered the army to end the mutiny.
           • Towards the end of June the middle class liberals joined the protests. They demanded an elected parliament, freedom of speech and the right to form political parties.
             • Towards the end of June more and more workers started to go on strike. The workers wanted better wages and working and lining conditions.
               • In July the peasants rioted. They seized land, burnt crops and looted the landowners' houses.
                 • In October a group of workers came together to organise the strikes in St Petersburg. They became known as the St Petersburg Soviet. Other cities started to copy, forming their own soviets.