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Russian Revolution
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Alexander III Succeeds
Alexander III succeeded in the throne of his Father, Alexander II in 1881. He clung to all principles of autocracy and used harsh measures in order to wipe out revolutionaries. He turned Russian into a police state, teeming with spies and informers. -
Nicholas II Becomes Czar
After the reign of Alexander III, Nicholas II becomes ruler. He continued the Russian autocracy and blinded him to the changing conditions of the time. -
Russian Marxists split over Revolutionary Tactics
in 1903, the Menshiviks and the Bolsheviks came to a split over their revolutionary tactics. The menshiviks were more moderate and wanted a broad base of popular support, while the Bolsheviks were radical and supported a small number of comitted revolutionaries willing to sacrifice anything for change. -
The Bloody Sunday: The Revolution of 1905
On this day, thousands of families and workers approached the Winter Palace of the Czar. They carried a petition asking for better working conditions, personal freedom, and an elected national legislature. Nicholas II's soldiers fired at the revolutionaries. This resulted in more than 1,000 deaths and several hundred wounded. -
Nicholas II Approves Freedom
Bloody Sunday provoked many strikes and revolutions across Russia. Nicolas II reluctantly approved more freedom because of this. He approved the formation of the Duma-Russia's first parliament -
The First Meeting of the Duma
In May, after Nicholas II approved the formation of the Duma, the first meeting was held.The leaders wanted to make Russia's government a constitutional Monarchy, like Britatin's. This caused the czar to become scared of his power being lost, so he dissolved the Duma weeks later -
Russia Enters WWI
Nichlas II decided to drag Russia into WWI even though they were unprepared to handle military costs. -
Rasputin is Murdered
Rasputin was a self proclaimed holy man who claimed he had magical healing powers. He seemed to ease Nicholas II's and Alexandra's son from his hemophelia symptoms. Alexandra then gave Rasputin political powers. He opposed reform measures and obtained powerful positions. He was murdered because nobles feared his political power. -
Textile Workers Lead Revolution
Women textile workers led a strike in Petrograd in 1917. For five days, riots were increasing over shortages of bread and fuel. Workers were upset with the autocracy yet again. -
Provisional Government Topples
Armed factory workers stormed the Winter Palace in Petrograd. They called themselves the Bolshevik Red Guards and took government offices and arrested the leaders of provisional government. -
Treaty of Breast Litovsk
In March 1918, Russia and Germany signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Russia surrendered a large part of its territory to Germany and its allies. The humiliating terms of this treaty triggered widespread anger among many Russians. -
1918-1920 Civil War Rages
From 1918 to 1920, civil war raged in Russia. Several Western nations, including the United States, sent military aid and forces to Russia to help the WhiteArmy. However, they were of little help. -
New Economic Policy
Lenin temporarily put aside his plan for a state-controlled economy. Instead, he resorted to a small-scale version of capitalism called the New Economic Policy (NEP). The reforms under the NEP allowed peasants to sell their surplus crops instead of turning them over to the government. -
Stalin becomes dictator
Lenin suffered a stroke in 1922. Stalin began his ruthless climb to the head of the government between 1922 and 1927. In 1922, as general secretary of the Communist Party, he worked behind the scenes to move his supporters into positions of power. -
Stalin Takes Over
By 1928, Stalin was in total command of the Communist Party. Trotsky, forced into exile in 1929, was no longer a threat. Stalin now stood poised to wield absolute power as a dictator
