The Lena Goldfield Strike, 1912

What was the Lena Goldfield Massacre?

The Lena Goldfield Massacre was the killing of goldfield workers who were on strike. The workers were shot by the army. The gold fields were located by the River Lena in Siberia.

When was the Lena Goldfield Massacre?

The Lena Goldfield Massacre happened on 17th April, 1912 (or 4th April, Old Style).

What caused the Lena Goldfield strike?

The goldfield workers went on strike to protest against poor and harsh working conditions.

What did the workers demand during the Lena Goldfield strike?

The workers had 3 main demands:

• ❖ An 8-hour work day.
• ❖ An increase in wages.
• ❖ Better food; they were often given rotten meat.

What was the tsar's response to the Lena Goldfield strike?

The army and police were sent to deal with the strike:

• ❖ The administration refused to agree to the workers' demands.
• ❖ The strike committee and those on strike were arrested.
• ❖ Protestors were shot by the army, with around 270 killed and 250 injured.

What was the people's response to the Lena Goldfield strike?

The massacre sparked more strikes across the Russian Empire, with 700 being held during April 1912. According to Lenin, the Lena massacre 'inflamed the masses with revolutionary fire'.

What was the Duma's response to the Lena Goldfield strike?

The massacre was investigated by the Duma. Alexander Kerensky led the investigation and reported on the terrible conditions faced by miners.

Why was the Lena Goldfield strike important?

The Lena Goldfield strike and massacre were important because they showed 2 main things:

• ❖ Working conditions for the working class were still awful.
• ❖ Nicholas II and his government would still use force to crush opposition.