History of Europe

What was an event that helped turn Russians against the czar?

Bloody Sunday (1905)

- On January 22, 1905, thousands of workers marched peacefully to the Winter Palace with a petition expressing their grievances - better working conditions, shorter working hours, higher wages, and an elected assembly

- They carried Orthodox religious icons and portraits of the czar thinking that he wouldn't order his troops to fire at their own

- However, the workers were met by troops. After hesitating because some soldiers were reluctant to fire, the troops began shooting unarmed peaceful demonstrators

- Around 1,000 were killed while several more thousands are estimated to have been at least injured that day