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Marxists Revolutionaries split
Marxists revolutionaries disagree over revolutionary tactics. The more radical Bolsheviks are ready to risk everything. The charismatic Vladimir Lenin becomes the leader. -
Japan Retaliates
After Russia breaks a series of agreements between Russia and Japan over Korea and Manchuria Japan retaliates and attacks the Russians at Port Arthur, Manchuria. This lead to the revolt in the midst of the war -
Bloodstained Protest
200,000 workers along with their families went to the the czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg carrying petition asking better working conditions, more personal right, and elected national legislature.Over 1,000 protesters wounded and 100’s killed when Nicholas II’s generals ordered soldiers to fire at crowd. Because of Bloody Sunday waves of riots and violence spread through the country. Nicholas hesitantly promised more freedom, and passed creation of Duma, Russia's first parliamement -
First Meeting
The first Duma meeting happened in May of 1906. The leaders were moderates and wanted Russia to become a Constitutional Monarchy like Britain. Czar was hesitant to share his power so he dissolved the Duma after ten weeks. -
Russia Involvement
Nicholas II decided to drag Russia into World War I even though they were unprepared to handle the military and economic costs. They had weak generals and poorly equipped troops that were no match for the German army. German machine guns killed Russians by the thousands. Defeat followed defeat. More than 4 million Russian soldiers had been wounded, taken prisoner, or killed in less than a year passed. Russia’s involvement in the war revealed czarist rule and military leaderships weaknesses. -
Petrograd Citywide Strike
A citywide strike was led by women textile workers in Petrograd. Shortages of bread and fuel caused riots over next 5 days. Nearly 2,000,000 workers swarmed streets shouting, “Down with the autocracy!”, “Down with the war!” initially soldiers obey orders to shoot rioters but later sided with them. The local protest (March Revolution) exploded making czar Nicholas 2 leave his throne. The March Revolution did bring down czar like they wanted, but didn’t set up a strong government to replace him. -
Bolshevik Takeover
Armed factory workers (called themselves Bolshevik Red Guards)stormed into the Winter Palace in Petrograd without warning. The Bolshevik Red Guards took over the government offices and arrested the leaders of the provisional government. Almost as quickly as the czarist regime had been replaced Kerensky and his colleagues disappeared. -
Brest-Litovsk Treaty
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed by Russia and Germany. Russia agrees to surrendering a large amount of its property to Germany and its allies. Anger spread through the Russians due to the humiliating agreement. They objected to the Bolsheviks and their policies and to the murder of the royal family. -
Red Army Visctory
War raged in Russia. Many allies helped The White Army by sending military aid and forces to Russia but it was little help. The war was more deadly than previous revolutions. Due to the three-year struggle and the famine that followed around 14 million Russians died. The war left Russia in chaos. The Red Army won and showed that the Bolsheviks were able both to seize power and to maintain it. -
Government Control
Lenin put aside his plan for a state-controlled economy, but only temporarily. He instead resorted to a small-scale version of capitalism (New Economic Policy (NEP)). Peasants were now allowed to sell their surplus crops instead of turning them over to the government because of NEP. The government let some small factories, businesses, and farms operate under private ownership, but kept control of major industries, banks, and means of communication. They also encouraged foreign investment. -
USSR and Communist Party
Russia was named the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The Bolsheviks then renamed their party the Communist Party. The USSR’s name was meant to honor the councils that helped launch the Bolshevik Revolution. The communist Party’s name came from the writings of Karl Marx, who used the word communism to describe the classless society that would exist after workers had seized power.