What events changed the attitude of the Russian people towards tsar nicholas 2nd?

The Russo-Japanese War (Began in 1904)

Both Russia and Japan were fighting for control of Korea and Manchuria.

Nicholas believed that winning the war would make him more popular with the Russian people.

However the Russians lost the war making him very unpopular (as the war had also made working conditions worse than before etc)

"Bloody Sunday" (Sunday 22nd January 1905)

Led by Father Gapon, peaceful protestors (mostly poor workers and their families) marched through St. Petersburg, on their way to the Tsar's "Winter Palace". The protestors' aim was to present to the Tsar a petition asking for better working and living conditions.

When they reached the centre of the city, soldiers and police, first fired warning shots and then opened fire on the crowd - approximately 500 were killed, and thousands more injured.

This changed the Russian people's view of the Tsar even though he was not up in the Winter Palace at this time and knew nothing of this.