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Russian Czars are cruel and oppressive
During the 19th century, many of the czars in power were very cruel and often oppressive towards the citizens during their reign. This dictatorship type of rule caused tension throughout the country for many decades. The anger and tension was a perfect breeding ground for a revolution, which it would soon lead to. -
Alexander III succeeds his father, Alexander II as czar
When Alexander III became czar, he stopped all reforms in Russia and adopted a form of government called an autocracy, in which he would have total control over the country. He imposed strict rules regarding loyalty to the czar and the country and labeled anyone who was questionable as dangerous. This tense atmosphere and controlling rule created agitation throughout the country that would later contribute to the revolutions in Russia. -
"Bloody Sunday"
Around 200,000 workers and their families marched to the czar's Winter Palace in St. Petersburg with a petition asking for better working conditions, more freedom, and an elected national legislature. Soldiers were ordered by Nicholas II's generals to fire at the crowd, wounding over 1,000 people and injuring several hundred, an event which became known as "Bloody Sunday." This massacre then sparked a number of other violent occurrences across the country that fueled the revolution. -
Nicholas II got Russia involved in WW1
In 1914, Nicholas II made the decision to involve Russia in World War I, which proved to be a mistake. Russia was unequipped for battle and unprepared for the costs both economically and militarily. Within a year, over four million Russian soldiers were killed and this catastrophic loss proved that czarist rule and their military leadership were faulted and weak, causing citizens to question the authority of their country and thus encouraging a revolution. -
The Trans-Siberian Railway was completed
Started in 1891, the Trans-Siberian Railway construction was completed in 1916. It was the longest continuous rail line in the world that connected European Russia in the west to the east Russian ports along the Pacific ocean. The construction of the railway sparked industrialization and brought along with it problems in factories, such as child labor and poor working conditions, that provoked organized strikes and promoted revolution. -
The March Revolution
In March of 1917, over 200,000 workers from a women's textile factory stormed the streets and rioted over shortages of bread and fuel. This local protest soon erupted into a country-wide revolution and Nicholas II was forced to abdicate his throne and then he and his family were executed. Because of this revolution, the czar regime collapsed and without a properly functioning government to replace it, the country was left in a vulnerable position that would allow the Soviets to gain power. -
The "Bolshevik Red Guards" stormed the Winter Palace
In November of 1917, armed factory workers, who called themselves the "Bolshevik Red Guards", charged the Winter Palace in Petrograd . They then took control over the government offices and arrested the leaders of the provisional government. With the Bolsheviks in power, it lead to the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which caused great tension across the country and provoked revolution in the form of a civil war. -
Russia and Germany sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
In signing this treaty, Russia was giving up much of territory to Germany and its allies. Russian citizens were humiliated by this and anger spread throughout the country as they had an opposition to the Bolsheviks and their policies. Now Germany had problems with angry citizens and a threat of a civil war or a revolt. -
Lenin turns to New Economic Policy (NEP)
Lenin temporarily abandoned his plan for a state-controlled economy to adopt a new policy of small-scaled version of capitalism, the New Economic Policy (NEP). Under this new policy, peasants were allowed to sell their surplus crops instead of being forced to give them to the government, and some small businesses were allowed to operate under private ownership. The NEP restored order to the country by bringing the civil war to a halt, gaining support for Lenin and communism as a whole. -
Stalin gains complete control of the Communist Party
Stalin had been climbing to reach the top of the government since 1922 and he finally had the perfect opportunity to take control. Leon Trotsky, Stalin's competition for the head of the party, was exiled, which allowed for Stalin to have complete command and be in a very dangerous position of power. As one of the final points in the Russian revolution(s), Stalin now had the power to become an absolute dictator.
