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Marxists Revolutionaries Split
Marxists revolutionaries disagree over revolutionary tactics. The more radical Bolsheviks are ready to risk everything. The charismatic Vladimir Lenin becomes the leader. -
Period: to
Russian Revolution
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Battle of Port Arthur
Russia and Japan had been competing for Korea and Manchuria so they signed agreements over the territories. Russia, however, broke these agreements leaving Japan very unhappy. The Japanese retaliated by attacking Port Arthur. Russia's repeated losses in the battle led to revolts by the Russians back home. -
Bloody Sunday
Many workers brought a petition to Nichols II's winter palace. The petition asked for better working conditions, more freedom, and an elected national legislature. Nicholas ordered his soldiers to fire into the crowd, killing hundreds and wounding more than a thousand. His actions led to violence and strikes throughout the city, so Nicholas approved the creation of Russia's first parliament called Duma. -
Duma Meets
For the first time ever the Duma meets and they discuss how they want Russia to become a constitutional monarchy. Nicholas II doesn't want to share his power though, so he dissolves the Duma within 10 weeks of forming it. -
Russia Enters WWI
Nicholas II decided to have Russia enter World War I. The Russians were not prepared to handle the military and costs of war. The soldiers were also poorly equipped which contributed to the millions of Russians killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. Due to Nicholas II's bad judgment of entering the war, Russia's weaknesses were revealed to the world. -
Women Lead Strike
Women textile workers led a citywide strike causing riots over the shortage of bread and fuel. The soldiers followed their orders at first and shot the rioters, but later sided with them. These riots led to the March Revolution which forced Nicholas II to resign from the throne and then he and his family were executed. -
Bolshevik Red Guard Take Over
Armed factory workers, who called themselves the Bolshevik Red Guard, stormed the Winter Palace and took over the government offices and arrested leaders of the provisional government. This led to Lenin ordering that all farmland should be distributed among the peasants and he gave control of the factories to the workers. The Bolsheviks and Lenin also signed a truce to stop fighting with Germany. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk is Signed
Russia and Germany signed a treaty called the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. It stated that Russia would surrender a large part of its territory to Germany and its allies. The Russians were angry with this and objected the Bolsheviks, their policy, and the murder of the royal family. -
The Civil War Ceases
The Russian civil war comes to an end after nearly three years. The destruction and loss of life from fighting, hunger, and a worldwide flu epidemic left Russia in complete disorder and chaos. About 14 million people died over this struggle. The success the Bolsheviks had showed that they were able to seize power and maintain it. -
State-Controlled Economy Halted
Lenin decided to put the state-controlled economy he had planned off to the side. He resorted to a small-scale version of capitalism which he called New Economic Policy. This new economy allowed peasants to sell their extra crops insted of having to turn them over to the government. It let the government keep control of the major industries, banks, and means of communications, letting small businesses, factories, and farms operate under private ownership. -
USSR Rises
Lenin had organized Russia into several self-governing republics under the central government to keep nationalism in check. The country was then named the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or the USSR.
