Final answer:
In response to civil unrest and defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, Tsar Nicholas II acquiesced to the formation of the Duma, an elected parliament, in October 1905 in order to mitigate the crisis and reassert Russia's stature internationally.
Step-by-step explanation:
In October 1905, Tsar Nicholas II, amidst extensive civil unrest and the wake of a disastrous defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, took significant action to address the demands of the Russian people. After troops fired upon unarmed demonstrators in an event known as Bloody Sunday, and subsequent nationwide strikes and revolts that followed, the Tsar agreed to the creation of an elected parliament, known as the Duma. This marked an attempt to quell the upheaval and concede some political power in a time where his decisive leadership was put into question.
Despite initial resistance, Tsar Nicholas's acquiescence to form the Duma was an attempt to 'teach the Japanese a lesson' by showing a willingness to reform and stabilize Russia, subsequently enhancing its position on the international stage. However, this move also highlighted the growing internal pressures for change within Russia, driven by the populace's dissatisfaction with the Tsar's rule and Russia's economic and military setbacks.