-
Alexander III becomes Czar
Alexander II was assassinated. As a result, Alexander III succeeded his father. -
Russian Marxist split into two groups over revolutionary tactics
Due to rapid industrialization in Russia many issues became present, such as; poor working conditions and low wages. As a result, Karl Marx views were successfully established in Russia. Furthermore, the more moderate Mensheviks wanted a broad base of popular support for the revolution, while the more radical Bolsheviks supported a small number of committed revolutionaries willing to sacrifice everything for change. -
The Russo-Japenese War
Russia and Japan competed for control of Kora and Manchuria. The two nations signed a series of agreements over the territories, but Russia broke the agreements. As a result, Japan retaliated by attacking the Russians at Port Arthur. This sparked unrest at home, in Russia, and led to a revolt in the midst of the war. -
Bloody Sunday; The Revolution of 1905
Approximately 200,000 workers and their families approached the czar Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. They were asking for better working conditions, more personal freedom, and an elected national legislature. While, Nicholas II's generals ordered soldiers to set fire on the crowd. Bloody Sunday started a wave of strikes and violence across the country. Eventually, Nicholas approved the creation of Duma, Russia first Parliament, but was dissolved ten weeks later. -
World War I: The Final Blow
Nicholas II decided to drag Russia into WWI. Russia was unprepared to handle the military and economic cost. Russia's poor generals and unequipped troops were no match for the German Army. Before a year had passed, more than 4 million Russian soldiers has been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. -
The Trans-Siberian Railway was completed
It began being built in 1891, but not completed until 1916. It connected European Russia in the west with Russia ports on the Pacific Ocean in the east. -
The March Revolution
Women textile workers led a citywide strike. In the next five days, riots flared up over shortage of bread and fuel. Nearly 200,000 workers swarmed the streets. At first the soldiers obeyed orders to shoot the rioters but later sided with them. -
Lenin returns to Russia
The Germans believed that Lenin and his Bolshevik supporters would stir unrest in Russia, which would hurt the Russian war effort against Germany. Germany arranged Lenin's return to Russia -
The Provisional Government Topples
Without warning, armed factory workers stormed into the Winter Palace in Petrograd. The Bolshevik Red Guards took over government offices and arrested the leaders of the Provisional government -
The Bolshevik Revolution
Lenin and the Bolsheviks gained control of the Petrograd soviet. People were rallying, and eventually gained widespread appeal. -
Bolsheviks in Power
After the Bolshevik takeover, Lenin ordered that all farmland be distributed among the peasants. They gave control of the factories to the workers. They also signed a truce with Germany to stop fighting, the treaty was called the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The results were, Russia surrendering part of their territory to Germany and its allies. This caused widespread anger in Russia. -
Lenin Restores Order
Lenin temporary put aside his plan for a state-controlled economy. Instead, he resorted to a small-scale version of capitalism. But the government kept control of major industries, such as; banks and the means of communication. The country slowly recovered. -
Political Reforms
Bolshevik leaders saw nationalism as a threat to unity and party loyalty. As a result, Lenin organized Russia into several self governing republics. Eventually, the Bolsheviks renamed their party the Communist Party. -
Stalin becomes Dictator
Lenin suffered a stroke in 1922. As a result, Stalin began his climb to lead the government. Eventually, Stalin was in total control of the Communist Party. He got absolute power as a dictator.
