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The Russo-Japanese war was an embarrassing defeat for the Russians. They lost to the small and weak country of Japan. This battle exposed the weakness of the Russian government.
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The Revolution of 1905 started with Bloody Sunday. After Nicholas II sent out soldiers to "take care" of these protestors, Russians lost faith and respect for the tsar. People started massive strikes, peasant uprisings, mutinies, and terrorist attacks. The tsar was in a bad position and was forced to make changes, including the failed creation of the Duma.
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On Sunday, January 22nd workers and families marched on the tsars winter palace in a peaceful demonstration. The people simply wanted change and better working conditions. However, Tsar Nicholas II avoided the entire situation and sent out soldiers to take care of the protestors. The soldiers shot and slashed at the people, killing hundreds.
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The Duma was a national legislature whose leaders were moderates. They wanted a constitutional monarchy similar to Britain. They provided Russians with basic civil liberties. However, it was primarily in the hands of the tsar and was innefectual, leading to its quick disposal.
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World War I led to a lot of unrest in Russia. Many soldiers were dead or deserted, food, fuel, and weaponry was dwindling, prices were highly inflated, and people just wanted an end to war. Nicholas II promoted the war while many Russian civilians were clamoring for change.
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Workers started striking against Tsar Nicholas II. He sent troops, but they began to join forces with the protestors. Nothing was going well for the tsar and he was forced to abdicate his throne. Later, he and his whole family were executed by revolutionaries.
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The Bolsheviks, or the Red Army, fought against the White Army, which pretty much consisted of Kerensky and everybody else. The Red Army revolted after Kerensky cut off Bolshevik headquarters and arrested Bolshevik leaders.
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Lenin came to power promising peace, land, and bread. He put an end to war, he gave land to the peasants, and he put an end to food shortages. Lenin developed the New Economic Policy (NEP) and changed the name of Russia to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), or just the Soviet Union, after it became communist.
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When Russia pulled out of the war, they signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. It gave Germany much land, including parts of Poland, Ukraine, Finland, and the Baltic States.
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Joseph Stalin became Russia's first dictator. He put Russia into a totalitarian state. He forced obedience of the people and crushed oppression. With Stalin, Russia became an entirely different environment to live in.
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