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The Russo-Japanese War
Russia broke peace agreements against Japan, who then retaliated by attacking Russia at Port Arthur. The news of repeated losses sparked unrest with the Russian citizens and lead to the revolution. -
Bloody Sunday: The Revolution of 1905
200,000 workers and their families marched to the czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. They were bringing a petition for personal freedom, and an elected national legislature. Nicholas II’s generals has soldiers fire at the crowd, and more than 1,00 citizens were wounded. -
The 1st Russian Parliament
The first Duma met, its leaders were moderates who wanted to change Russia to a constitutional monarchy like Britain. The czar did not like to share his power, so he got rid of the Duma ten weeks later. -
WWI: Last Straw
Nicholas II brought Russia into World War 1. Russia was very unprepared to handle the economical and military costs. Its weak and poor army was in no shape to fight another war. After the continuous losses, WWI revealed the czars bad rule and military leadership. -
Women’s Strike
Women textile workers in Petrograd led a citywide strike. In the following days, riots blew up over lack of fuels and food. At first the soldiers obeyed orders to shoot rioters, but soon joined them. -
Provisional Government Topples
Armed factory workers stormed the Winter Palace, calling themselves the Bolshevik Red Guards, they took over government offices and arrested leaders. -
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. -
Treaty of Riga
The Treaty of Riga brings most fighting in the Russo-Polish War to a halt. -
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). -
Political Reforms
Lenin suffered a stroke, but survived. This started up competition for finding a new leader. The two best options were Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin.