Psycho-Japanese War Dbq

The Russo-Japanese war was a brief war that lasted for approximately one year that was stimulated from Russia’s desire to expand into Asian territory. The growth of the Russian empire specifically posed a problem for the Japanese because both Russia and Japan desired to obtain the same territory. On February 8, 1904, the rivalry between Russia and Japan over dominance in Korea and Manchuria became evident when the Japanese launched a surprise attack and siege on the Russian naval squadron at Port Arthur. The war continued with attacks on Russian territory in the Liaotung Peninsula, Mukden, Fu-hsien, Liao-yang, etc. The majority if not all of the battles were won by the Japanese military because Russia suffered from poor and corrupt military

Nicholas II was extremely strict when it came to his government and as a result forbade any form of democracy in Russia and imposed absolute autocracy on all the citizens. His domestic policy was so strict political parties were illegal to form and he even made the Okhrana, a secret police that arrested and imprisoned any political critics, rebels, or those who voiced a negative opinion against the Russian autocracy. As a result, the citizens, especially those of lower class, despised the government and would often attempt to revolt. However, since the revolts were unorganized and ineffective, Nicholas II was able to end them very swiftly. After the defeat in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Russia suffered extreme humiliation as well as economic decline. This angered the Russian citizens which led to the Russian Revolution of 1905. On January 22, 1905, approximately 150 workers were killed by soldiers who fired on peaceful protestors, led by priest, Father Gapon, in Saint Petersburg. This event was known as Bloody Sunday and signified the beginning of the Revolution of 1905. Subsequently, several radical groups formed an alliance and organized several mutinies and strikes against the Russian autocracy. Left with no choice, Nicholas II issued a manifesto on October 30, 1905 that granted more suffrage rights, got rid of arbitrary arrest without a trial, and provided for an elected legislature. This became Russia’s first constitution and limited the power of the autocracy