1905-1907

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As you probably know, serfdom was abolished in 1861. However, most peasants weren't too happy with their living conditions. The amount of land they received after being released from their masters was not enough to feed a family so many of them went to large cities looking to get a job at a factory. Factory owners took advantage of the fact that peasants had nowhere else to. Wages were barely enough to survive and feed a family and work weeks were 60-63 hours long.

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The upper classes that were once loyal supporters of the monarchy now began to criticize it openly. The lack of a proper parliament, the refusal to do anything about the conditions of the peasants and the decisions that Nicholas took made the thinking part of the Russian society wonder if the Tsar was fit for the job.

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The peasants, workers and the upper classes were all unhappy because of something. The Empire was standing on the edge of an abyss. in 1904 the Russo-Japanese war began. The enthusiasm among the russian public was high but as the war went on the Empire's weakness became evident. The Japanese knew that a prolonged engagement would result in a russian vicotry and decided that destabilising Russia from within would help the win the war.
Georgy Gapon, a russian priest, received funding from the japanese to create an assembly of workers in Saint Petersburg. This assembly's goal was giving the Tsar a petition.
What happened next doomed the Russian monarchy.
A crowd of workers led by Gapon marched towards the Winter Palace while singing "God save the Tsar". They were unarmed and posed no threat to anyone. Meanwhile, thousands of troops were being deployed in order to halt the advance of the worker crowd. There was confusion among the troops. Some commanders told the assmebly to stop and wait. For some reason, the cossack regiments charged into the crowd. Afterwards, the shooting began. Gapon was in the front of the crowd and somwhow survived the first volley of fire even tough dozens of people next to him were killed or wounded.

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Thousands of soldiers in downtown Petersburg opened fire at crowds of people. Even those who weren't realted to the workers' assembly were being shot at. By late afternoon thousands of workers had left their factories and started pillaging the city and fighting the government's troops. The Tsar, who was previously loved by the common folk(despite a few of his stupid decision in the past) became despised and hated. Even though workers strikes had been going on for a few days prior to these events, it was the 9th of january 1905 that marked the beginning of the first russian revoultion. Hundreds of thousands of people began building barricades and most factories in Petersburg stopped working. Keep in mind that this was during the Russo-Japanese war.

Nicky did nothing wrong.

>>3154789
>proper parliament and constitution
senpai...

>>3154967

AYYY WHY MY NIGGA DABBING?!?