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Russo-Japanese War: Topics in Chronicling America

Japan launched a surprise attack against the Russian-held Port Arthur in 1904 beginning the "Russo-Japanese War." This guide provides information for researching this topic in the Chronicling America digital collection of historic newspapers.

Introduction

Map of the Russo-Japanese War with a chronological sequence of major events. June 10, 1904 The Hawaiian Gazette (Honolulu Oahu, HI), Image 2. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.

Late in the night on February 8, 1904, Japan launched a surprise attack against the Russian-held Port Arthur, along the coast of Manchuria, beginning the Russo-Japanese War. Russia faced many defeats as it battled Japan while also fighting a revolution on the home front. In September 1905, President Teddy Roosevelt negotiates peace between the two countries, earning him the Nobel Peace Prize. Read more about it!

The information in this guide focuses on primary source materials found in the digitized historic newspapers from the digital collection Chronicling America.

The timeline below highlights important dates related to this topic and a section of this guide provides some suggested search strategies for further research in the collection.

Timeline

February 8, 1904 Japan launches a surprise attack on the Russians.
August 1, 1904 The Siege of Port Arthur begins.
January 2, 1905 Port Arthur Surrenders.
January 22, 1905 The "1905 Revolution" breaks out in Russia.
May 27-28, 1905 The Battle of Tsushima.
September 5, 1905 The Treaty of Portsmouth signed.
May 5, 1910 Theodore Roosevelt formally accepts the Nobel Prize.