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February/March Revolution
Nicholas II, leader of the Russian Army, lacked money to support the army and led to a military failure and the lost for government support. There was supply shortages and increase in prices. In March 1917, there was a strike in Petrograd concerning the shortages of bread and fuel. While he was at war front, his wife runs the government and is influenced by Father Grigori Rasputin who is known as a “holy man.” This revolution was important because it signified rebellion and the end of monarchy. -
Tsar/Czar Nicholas Abdicates
The uprising of the March Revolution led to the end of the czarist rule. On March 2, 1917, Czar Nicholas abdicates his throne and Tsarina Alexandra, his wife and him were executed a year later. The revolution had succeeded in bringing an end to the three-century czarist rule but failed to create a strong government. This day marked the end of the czarist rule and start of a republic for the Russians. -
Provisional Government Takes Control
After the czar abdicated, leaders of the Duma created a provisional government whose military commander was Lavr Kornilov and was headed by Aleksander Kerensky . The fighting in WWI lost Kerensky support from the citizens and socialist revolutionary party formed soviets and succeeded in influencing the people. The provisional government was less radical than the Soviet and was dominated by the Mensheviks. This showed that the Russians mostly suffered from economic troubles when fighting in WWI. -
Lenin Returns and the April Theses/Thesis
V. I. Lenin, leader of the Bolsheviks was exiled to Switzerland during the March Revolution. The Germans thought Lenin’s return would rouse unrest in Russia and would hurt the war effort and therefore, arranged his return to Petrograd. After his arrival, Lenin gave speeches and his ideas were published and were known as the April Theses/Thesis. His goal was for the Bolsheviks to have control and the result of his return created a long-term effect of Russia becoming the first communist country. -
Storming of the Winter Palace/October/November Revolution
The Bolsheviks gained control of the soviet and became the main Social Democratic Labor Party. Lenin’s slogan—“Peace, Land and Bread” gained the people’s attention. Armed factory workers who called themselves Red Guards attacked the Winter Palace in November 1917 and went to arrest Kerensky but he and the others disappeared. This event was the end of the provisional government and it was significant because under Lenin’s rule, new economic policies and political reforms were in place. -
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Lenin Takes Control
The Bolsheviks believed Marxism; they favored revolution with guidance. After the Bolsheviks’ coup, the Politburo (policy-making group) was dismissed. Lenin ordered for the distribution of farmland amongst the peasants, gave control of the factories to the workers and signed a peace agreement with Germany. These acts lasted for a while under Lenin’s rule and it highlighted the positive things that occurred under the Bolsheviks. -
Treaty of Brest Litovsk
The Treaty of Brest Litovsk served as a truce with Germany in order to bring peace within the country. On March 3, 1918, Russia and Germany signed this peace agreement and in the process Russia gave up part of their territory. This humiliating act angered the Russians and they started to disagree with the Bolsheviks and their policies. The treaty signified an importance because an immediate conflict is seen between the Bolsheviks and the people. -
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Russian Civil War
The White Army, which consisted of Kulaks and others united in order to defeat Lenin’s rule. Leon Trotsky, a revolutionary leader, directed the Bolsheviks’ Red Army. Even though the Whites had help, the Red Army still upheld its power. The economic system during this war was known as the war communism. After the war, the economy plummeted and hunger was an issue. Lenin acted by creating New Economic Policy that allowed collectivization of small businesses and caused Russia’s economy to improve. -
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Five Years Plan
When Lenin died, Joseph Stalin took control; he set high quotas and goals to increase the production of coal, oil, steel and electricity. For his First Five-Year Plan to be reached, the production of consumer goods was constraint. His plan was to develop the Soviet Union’s economy and the result was an immediate success because he had control over the people and had an advantage of women and child labor. -
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Great Purges
Stalin wanted to achieve Totalitarianism and made posters, movies, radio, newspaper as a mean propaganda to spread his ideas. Nikolai Bukharin, who worked together with Lenin before was the editor of the government newspaper. Stalin began by eliminating his enemies such as the former Bolsheviks and the Kulaks; this campaign was known as the Great Purge. His enemies were either sent to the gulag or executed. This resulted an execution of 8 to 13 million deaths. -
Soviet Nazi Pact Signed
Adolf Hitler wanted to avoid a two-front war in World War II and decided to sign the Soviet Nazi Pact with the Soviet Union. This prevented a war between the two countries and in return for not joining the war; Germany gave the Baltic States to the Soviet Union. Even though this treaty was suppose to last for 10 years, it only lasted about two years because the Soviet Union was invaded on June 22, 1941.
