Georgi Gapon, a Russian priest, organized the Assembly of Russian Workers and led a peaceful march to present a petition to Tsar Nicholas II in 1905. The petition called for improved working conditions and an end to the Russo-Japanese War. When the marchers reached the Winter Palace, Nicholas' forces opened fire in an event known as Bloody Sunday that left over 90 dead. Though the revolution was initially unsuccessful, it increased unrest and led to further revolutionary activity, culminating in the overthrow of the Tsar in 1917. While the 1905 revolution did not achieve its goals, it allowed workers to voice their grievances and gain national attention for their cause.

1. The People’s Strike In
Russia (1905)
Kyle Criscuolo, Alex Hagen, and Harry Muth
Non-Violent Movement

2. The Reforms of Alexander II
• “Emancipation” of the Serfs (mid 19th century)
– Insufficient Land
– Annual Sums to the Government
– Given poorest parts of their estates to the
peasants

3. •He was an autocratic
dictator.
•Oppressed the majority of
the people in Russia.
• Leader of Russia during
Russo-Japanese War.
•Spent a lot of money on
naval war against Japan
• Angered the people
due to his little aid for
them.
•Priorities were
elsewhere

4. Russo-
Japanese War
-Nicholas II was over-
confident in his efforts.
-Japan was beating the
Russians at sea.
-fleet was losing
-Nicholas II believed that
Russia would win in the end.
- Nicholas II pushed Russia
further into battle and was
-forced to look for peace
settlements having lost
many battles.
- Poor use Of Money

5. Georgi Gapon
(1870-1906)
•Russian Priest
•Created the Assembly of
Russian Workers
• Wrote up the Petition to
combat Tzar working
conditions
•Led the procession to the
Winter Palace to present the
petition
•Assassinated by Russian
Secret Police for his profound
influence on the working
people

6. The Petition
• 150,000 signed the petition
• Written in respectful terms (not demanding)
• Goals:
1. Reduction in the working day (11 hours  8 hours)
2. Increase in salaries
3. Improvement of working conditions
4. Establishment of universal suffrage
5. End to Russo-Japanese War

7. The March to the Winter
Palace
• Working/Lower Class
• Four separate routes
• Dressed in finest attire
• No violence

8. Bloody Sunday
• Lose-Lose situation for
the Tsar
• Asking for reconsideration
• Working class attempts to
achieve better conditions,
wages, and hour
• Aftermath:
– 92 dead
– Several hundred wounded
http://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=7J6afJY9ab4&featur
e=related

9. Effects of the Movement
• The massacre on Bloody Sunday infuriated the
oppressed people of Russia
• Increased agitation with Government
• Made the masses aware
• Led to 1905 and 1917 Russian Revolution
• 1905 = not very successful
• 1917 – Nicholas II, the last Tsar, is taken out of
Power

10. Civil Disobedience: Effective
or Not?
• Was not “successful” in that the Russians
obtained their goals
• However:
– The people managed to voice their issue
– Gained national publicity
– 1917 The people successfully fought for their
rights

11. Bibliography
• http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/russiaandukraine/a/rrevst
imeline3.htm
• http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/1905_russian_revolution.h
tm
• http://depts.washington.edu/baltic/papers/russianrevolution.ht
m
• http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/anarchism/writers/anarcho/hist
ory/1905.html
• http://www.thecorner.org/hist/russia/revo1905.htm