Identification methods and applications

Russian History

The Russo-Japanese War was a conflict that occurred between Russia and Japan during the years 1904-1905. In this conflict, Japan and Russia battled over control and territorial dominance among the Asian countries that are strategically situated in areas where both countries (Japan and Russia) can easily expand their power. The origin of the war started with the failure of Japan to secure an agreement with Russia, wherein the latter should recognize Japan as one of the 'occupants' or conquerors of Korea, while Japan will also recognize Russia's territorial control over Manchuria (in China). Because of Russia's refusal and vested interest to increase its territorial powers over Asia, Japan launched an attack against Russia on February 8, 1904, which marked the start of the Russo-Japanese War.

Despite Russia's superior weaponry and military forces, Japan was able to win the war. The Russo-Japanese War was a very significant event, which marked Japan's reign as the most powerful nation in the Asian region. The defeat of the Russians weakened European control over Asia, and Japanese imperialism reigned as a result of the war. It is important to note that the war was also triggered by the socio-political changes happening in Japan in the early 20th century, wherein the Meiji Restoration leaders encouraged the formation of a modern state. The concept of a 'modern state' challenges Western control over Asian countries, and Japan aimed to defy Western control by becoming a competitive state, which was achieved by 'modernizing,' that is, 'Westernizing' the Japanese nation and society. In effect, the Russo-Japanese War is a symbolic representation of Japan's first triumph against Western influence in Asia, followed after by the rise of Japanese imperialism all over Asia, which would later have significant and crucial repercussions in World War II.

Leon Trotsky, well-known classical Russian Marxist, is considered one of the greatest Russian leaders who have unseated an imperialist government in the country, replacing it instead with a government where the people, particularly the working class, rules. Born in Ukraine, Trotsky was named Lev Davidovich Bronstein under a Jewish family. He was exposed to the ideas of Marxism, conceptualized and formulated by the German philosopher Karl Marx, during his high school years in Mikolayiv. His exposure to Karl Marx and Marxism was followed by his membership in the Social Democrats organization. His subsistence to Marxism and revolutionary activities against an imperialist Russian government resulted to his exile in Siberia during the 1890s. His escape from exile in Siberia in 1902 acquainted him with Vladimir Lenin, who would become the leader of the Bolsheviks, the Communist party who became significant in ousting the Russian imperial government in 1917, which followed the Russian Revolution.

As a member of the Bolsheviks, Trotsky figured prominently in organizing a Socialist army, wherein the Provisional Government during the Russian Revolution was destroyed. During Lenin's leadership as head of the Communist Party and the Russian nation, Trotsky organized the Red Army, which is a Socialist army that fought for the Party against its detractors and opponents, particularly those who seek to destabilize Lenin and the Communist Party's leadership in the country. Despite Trotsky's influence and power within the party, Joseph Stalin, a Communist Party member who maneuvered to gain power and control of the country immediately after the occurrence of Lenin's health failure, exiled him from Russia (right after Lenin's downfall as Russia's leader). Stalin's replacement of Lenin's leadership in Russia destroyed the Social Revolution Trotsky and Lenin dreamt of having in Russia, and was replaced by Stalin's authoritarian rule. A Soviet-Mexican agent, named Ramon Mercader, in 1940, assassinated Trotsky, while in exile in Mexico.

Duma was the name appropriated to the lower house of the Russian parliament. Created in 1907, the Duma served as Tsar Nicholas II's response to the demands of Russian society that there should be equal representation among the country's different classes. Four electoral classes were determined and elected as delegates for the Duma, which were composed of the landowners, townspeople, industrial workers, and peasants. These delegates, once elected, have been given the task of selecting the Duma -- that is, the members of the lower Parliament. However, despite the democracy and representativeness of the Duma for the Russian electorate, the Duma became more of a 'fixture' in the legislation rather than a participating electoral body in the government. This is because the Tsar interfered in the decisions of the delegates in electing members of the Duma. The first Duma was deemed to critical of the government, while the second as ineffective, and power was eventually given to the upper classes of the society. The Tsar eventually dissolved both Dumas. The third and fourth Duma, however, helped the Russians to finally overthrow the reign of an imperialist government in the country. Despite its being dissolved in 1917, the fourth and last Duma marked the end of Russian imperialism, leading to significant events in Russian history, particularly the emergence of the Russian Revolution and the eventual reign of the Communist Party and Socialist ideology in Russia.

The Russian Civil War, which occurred in 1918, was a conflict between the armed forces of the former imperialist government of Russia and the newly established leadership of the Communist Party in the country. The War, fought over between the Reds and the Whites, was a conflict between the Communist and Imperialist forces, respectively. The Red Army, formed by Leon Trotsky under Vladimir Lenin's leadership, was an army organized to fight for Communist ideals and the Social Revolution, ensuring that no detractors or opponents of the Party would attempt to destabilize the new government under Lenin's leadership. Opponents of the Party, specifically the displaced officials of the Russian empire, formed the White forces, which was composed of the Russian Imperial Army, as well as the elite or ruling class in Russian society. Due to strong support from the majority of Russians, composed mainly of the worker and peasant classes, the Red Army and the Communist Party won the Russian Civil War, which ended in 1922, the same year where the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was born.