The Russo-Japanese War started on February 8, 1904 and ended on September 5, 1905. It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan over Manchuria and Korea. They had major threats of operations, located near the Southern Manchuria, specifically the area around the Liaodong Peninsula, Mukden and the seas around Korea, Japan, and the Yellow Sea.
The Russo Japanese war happened for a number of reasons. According to the Japanese, the Russian Empire wanted to conquer both Manchuria and the Korean Peninsula. However, the Japanese empire had also set its sights on these vital territories as well. As Japan wanted to expand its empire into China and Korea, Japan as took notice of a opportunity to test its new military and navy.The war also, developed out of rivalry between Russia and Japan for dominance in Korea and Manchuria. Though Russia had built the Trans-Siberian Railroad in 1891-1904, it still lacked the transportation facilities necessary to reinforce its limited armed forces in Manchuria with sufficient men and supplies. Japan’s expanding population needed territory, food, raw materials, and new markets therefore creating new tasks for Japan.
Another cause was that Russia wanted a warm-water Pacific Ocean port. Which Russia had an ice-free, year-round port on the Pacific and desired control in China . Before fighting broke out , Japan moved to settle the conflict before anything could go out of hand. The overture was rejected by Tsar Nicholas II in 1867-1918. Japan soon severed all diplomatic relations with Russia on February 6,1904 . Two days later, the Japanese issued a surprise attack on Russian ships at Lushun, Manchuria. Then leading to February 10 , 1904 Japan officially then declared itself at war with Russia. Both of the countries wanted control of Manchuria and Korea not ending in compromise.
Once they were told the news of soon to come war the Russians were shocked, it began with a surprise attack by the Japanese navy against the Russian fleet at Port Arthur . Japan then laid siege to this warm port, and the closing of the siege became critical to the outcome of the war. One other major battle took place a few miles off the shores of Tsushima Island, where the Russian Pacific fleet was virtually destroyed. Shortly thereafter, the treaty of Portsmouth concluded the war by awarding Japan recognition in Korea, Port Arthur, and southern half of Sakhalin.
The war was never popular in Russia, the public had not been prepared for war. Once war finally suddenly stuck it did not lead to an outbreak of spontaneous patriotism. The war was fought in the very far eastern reaches of the country. The majority of the population lived many hundreds of miles from the war and must have felt removed from it. Those in Moscow and St. Petersburg were 7,500 miles from the war zone. The news was slow to reach from one side of the nation to the other, there was little public enthusiasm for it as it was felt too remote. The new political parties felt that there was no justification for the war. The Social Revolutionaries indulged in terrorism while the Social Democrats felt nervous in the factories for strikes. The Liberals restricted their actions to petitions and verbal protests.With all this said The Russo Japanese war happened . They fought from February 8, 1904 to September 5, 1905 for possession. The end result was a victory. But it was only for one, and that was for the Japanese. That led to the treaty of Portsmouth. Japan did earn the right over the Manchuria and the Korean Peninsula. As for Russia they did not have the victory they hoped for. Leading to Russia losing everything and not obtaining the Peninsula.
- Nadia Ceja