Events Leading Up to the Russian Revolution

By delilahschieble

  • The Great Northern War

    Russia, Denmark, and Poland wanted more territory and Sweden's king who was fifteen years old was thought to be an easy target.

  • The Decemberist Revolt

    A group of nobles and officers tried overthrowing the czar's government in hopes of setting up a constitutional monarchy. This attempt failed and resulted in five of their leaders being executed and hundereds more exiled to Siberia.

  • Czar Alexander II emancipates serfs

    Alexander II freeds serfs and gave them a few political rights. They had tp buy land at high prices. Most peasants still lived in poverty.

  • The Assassination of Alexander II

    Russian socialists wanted to establish a new governmet and when they weren't able to get help from peasants, they turned to terrorism and ended up killing officials and Czar Alexander II

  • The Russo-Japanese War

    The Russians wanted a warm water port on the Pacific Ocean. The Japanese crushed the Russians.

  • The Revolution of 1905

    After Bloody Sunday, riots occured in the cities and homes in the countryside were burned and looted. To stop the riots, Czar Nicholas II set up the Duma and made small reforms.

  • Bloody Sunday

    Father Georgi Gapon led workers to St. Petersburg to ask for reforms. Before they could get there, soldiers shot at the crowd, leaving about 100 workers dead and many more injured.

  • The March Revolution

    Riots broke out in Petrogrd (St. Petersburg) because of the food shortages. Troops were sent to restore order, but many joined the crowds.

  • Czar Nicholas II Abdicates the Russian throne

    A week after the riots in Petrograd, demonstrators overthrew officials and Czar Nicholas gave up the Russian throne. The Duma made reforms such as freedom of speech and religion. An assembly was called to write up a constitution for Russia.

  • World War I (Russian Onvolvement)

    Russia joined their allies Britain and France to fight against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Russian industries, however, couldn't supply enough war supplies to the army. SOliers were not always supplied at the war front. There were shortages of food and other goods in the cities. The czar was blamed for Russia's 'bad luck'.