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Alexander III becomes Czar
Alexander III becomes Czar after his father, Alexander II was assassinated by a member of the radical group People’s Will. -
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Russian Revolution Timeline
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Russia holds control; Jewish genocide.
Russia incorporated many different factors into preventing any possible revolutions. This included extreme censorship, secret police forces, and the continued cultural enforcements. Another major event was the major massacres against Jews in Russia. -
Nicholas II becomes Czar
Czar Alexander II's son Nicholas II assumes control as Alexander II dies from illness. -
Marxists split in two.
The Russian followers of Karl Marx and his ideology split into two primary groups; the Mensheviks supported a more abate approach with popular revolution while the Bolsheviks fought decidely for long lasting change. Future leader Vladimir Lenin led the Bolsheviks with good leadership and aggresive attitude. -
Nicholas II promises change.
Czar Nicholas II addresses the public outburst over oppresive events by approving the "October Manifesto", which promised civil liberties and set in place a Russian parliament called the Duma. This was later dissolved by Nicholas II himself. This move originally was supported by the people but as he "backtracked", his popularity shrank among the public. -
Bloody Sunday
A peaceful protest in St. Petersburg with over 200,000 participants ends in disaster as soldiers are ordered to fire at the crowds. Over 1,000 people are killed in an event crucial to Russian revolution. -
Nicholas II brings Russia into WWI
Czar Nicholas II moves Russia into WWI as Germany and Russia declare war on each other. The choice ultimately results in a fraying infrastructure as almost 4 million Russian soldiers are killed or wounded in the conflict. This allows for the public view on czarist governing to be swayed as most of the population is negatively affected by the decision. -
Rasputin is murdered.
Grigorii Rasputin, a controversial yet important figure in Nicholas II's political decisions, is murdered despite many failed attempts. The mysterious "holy man" helped to heal Nicholas II's son, and as of becoming a close friend to the family, had a powerful influence on Russia as Nicholas II resided in the military's headquarters. He had negative views on reform and was opposed by many Russian nobles. Rasputin's relationship allowed for his contribution to many key decisions in WWI Russia. -
The March Revolution
The strike in Petrograd ultimately leads to a popular revolution, causing Nicholas II to step down and remove his son from succession. However, this does not stop revolutionaries from executing Nicholas II and his family a year later. The following government, set up by the Duma, failed to meet the general public's wants as leader Alexander Kerensky chose to stay involved in WWI. The step of a full revolution sets up the country for divise change in years to come. -
Lenin and the Bolsheviks begin to gain influence.
Shortly after Lenin's arrival, the German's plan seemed to be going well. The Bolshevik movement quickly took power through major cities' Soviets, or local counsels of workers and civilians. This allowed them to progress their message of "Peace, Land, and Bread" to the national stage. -
February and March protests
During the months of February and March in Petrograd (formerly St. Petersburg), over 200,000 workers protest and strike over bread and fuel shortages. This later expanded into the March Revolution, a substantial and crucial reason for the overall Russian transformation. -
Lenin returns.
Russian dissident Vladimir Lenin returns to Russia through Germany in order to tear apart the internal Russian government with a gigantic revolution led by Lenin and his Bolshevik followers. The plan, orchestrated mainly by German officials, allows for the sizable revolt formed by the Bolshevik. -
Lenin siezes control.
As Lenin grew in popularity, he used his image to rally a powerful and aggressive movement. In November, armed workers using the name "Bolshevik Red Guards" siezed the majority of government buildings and arrested government leaders. -
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
In order to exit WWI, Lenin and the Bolshevik government sign the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The treaty has severe losses in territory for Russia, an asset that angers the public. -
Civil War chaos in Russia.
After the dissapointing treaty results for Russia, all opposition comes against the Bolsheviks. Multiple groups with different views unit in order to topple Bolshevik rule. This united army is reffered to as the White Army, in contrast to the Bolshevik Red Guards. The overall war was devastating for the country, with over 14 million deaths occuring due to the struggle. Eventually the Bolsheviks crushed the opposition and remained in power with a high cost. -
Lenin develops NEP
Bolshevik Leader develops NEP (New Economic Policy), a relatively capitalistic economy in which private ownership was expanded and profits could be gained by peasants. -
Russia becomes the USSR.
In 1922, Lenin's government changes the country's name to the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics (USSR) in honor of the Bolshevik councils that began the revolution. -
The Communist Party's Constitution is created.
In 1924, the newly named Communist Party, led by Lenin, releases a constituition with both socialist and democratic points. However, power was nowhere near evenly distributed as Lenin remained in almost complete control. -
Lenin dies.
Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Communist party, dies after having a stroke just two years earlier. This provides an opening for the rutheless Joseph Stalin to climb the ladder of government power.
