Preliminary
Lesson plan
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Nicholas II
Nicholas &
Alexandra
Life of the
peasants
Life of the
workers
Outbreak
of revolution
1905
revolution
Week 5
Web Wiz
Sources - Bloody Sunday
Source B: Eyewitness account of the march
Along the Nevsky Prospect from the direction of the working-class districts came row upon row of orderly and solemn faced workers all dressed in their best clothes. Gapon, marching in front of the procession, was carrying a cross, and a number of the workers were holding icons and portraits of the Tsar...
We had already reached the Alexander Garden, on the other side of which lay the Winter Palace Square, when we heard the sound of bugles, the signal for the cavalry to charge. The marchers came to a halt, uncertain as to what the bugles meant and unable to see what was happening.
In front, on the right, was a detachment of police, but since they showed no signs of hostility, the procession began moving again. Just then however, a detachment of cavalry rode out...The first volley was fired in the air, but the second was aimed at the crowd, and a number of people fell to the ground. Panic-stricken, the crowd turned and began running in every direction. They were now being fired on from behind...I cannot describe the horror I felt at that moment. It was quite clear the authorities had made a terrible mistake, they had totally misunderstood the intentions of the crowd...the workers went to the palace without any evil intent. They sincerely believed that when they got there they would kneel down and the Tsar would come out and meet them or at least appear on the balcony.
A Kerensky, Russia and History's Turning Point reprinted in Orwell, Shaw & Pearce.
Source C: Father Gapon's account of the 1905 march
At last we reached within two hundred paces of where the troops stood. Files of infantry barred the road, and in front of them a company of cavalry was drawn up, with their swords shining in the sun...A cry of alarm rose as the Cossacks came down upon us...the soldiers drove their horses, striking on both sides. I saw the swords lifted and falling, the men, women and children dropping to the earth like logs of wood, while moans, curses and shouts filled the air.
At last the firing ceased...I cried to them to 'Stand up!' But they lay still...and I saw the scarlet stain of blood upon the snow...'There is no longer any Tsar for us!' I exclaimed...We had gone unarmed.
G Gapon, The Story of my Life 1905 (reprinted in Bucklow and Russel, Russia Why Revolution?)
Source D: An extract from a letter written by an US diplomat in 1905
The present ruler has lost absolutely the affection of the Russian people, and whatever the future may have in store for the dynasty, the present Tsar will never again be safe in the midst of his people...
Reprinted in Bucklow and Russel, Russia Why Revolution?
