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Russia Industrializes
Russia's industry exploded and the number of factories doubled in between 1863 and 1900. The steel industry was one of the most successful aspects of the industrialization of Russia. However, revolutionary ideas spread and grew factories workers were growing discontent because there were poor working conditions, low wages, and child labor. -
Autocratic rule continues
Alexander III halted all reforms in Russia after succeeding his father Alexander II, and Nicholas II continued the autocratic rule in 1894. They both attempted to keep total control over every aspect of the citizens' lives. This did not bode well with the people and revolutionary ideas spread. -
Russo-Japanese war
Russia and Japan fought over Korea and Manchuria after Russia broke the two countries' agreement. Japan attacked Russian forces in Manchuria. After Russia lost to Japan several other times, people began to revolt in Russia. -
Bloody Sunday
200,000 workers and their families walked up to Nicholas II's winter palace carrying a petition. The czar's generals fired at the crowd of people and there were several hundred fatalities. This provoked a series of strikes across the country and Nicholas II gave in a little. -
Russia enters WWI
Czar Nicholas II decided to bring Russia into World War 1 but Russia was not prepared to handle the costs. There were over 4 million total Russian soldiers killed, wounded, or captured. This revealed the weakness of czarist rule and military leadership. -
March Revolution
Female textile workers led a citywide strike in Petrograd because of a shortage of bread and food. The soldiers who were ordered to shoot the protesters eventually joined them This started what was known as the March Revolution and caused Nicholas II to step down from his throne. -
The Bolshevik Revolution
Lenin took control of the provisional government by force after returning to Russia. The Bolshevik government later signed a treaty with Germany to cease fighting and begin peace talks. Because of this, Russia surrendered a large part of its territory to Germany and this caused widespread anger among the Russian people. -
Civil War rages in Russia
Non-Bolsheviks all united to form the white army and it tried to take on Lenin and the Bolsheviks' socialist government. 14 million Russians died in a three year civil war and in the famine that followed. The Bolsheviks' victory showed that they were able to not only seize power, but also maintain it. -
Economic Reforms in Russia
Lenin created the New Economic Policy (NEP) which allowed peasants to sell their surplus crops instead of turning them back over to the government. The policy also allowed more businesses to operate under private ownership. As a result, farms and factories both thrived more than they did before World War 1. -
Stalin rises to power
Lenin had a stroke and died 2 years later in 1924. Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky were the only two prominent figures that could possibly take the throne, but Trotsky was exiled in 1929 which gave Stalin a free ride to absolute power over Russia. This led to the mass murdering of millions of people.
