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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. -
Russia vs Japan Aftermath
Russia broke treaties signed to set agreements over territories. Japan attacked Russians at Port Arthur, Manchuria. Russia began losing and revolts started back home. -
Workers and Family Fight Back
200,000 workers and their families went to the czar's Winter Palace to fight for better working conditions, personal freedom, and an elected nation legislature. Generals were ordered to fire at the crowd. Many people were wounded and killed. Violence spread across the country. -
Duma Meets for the First Time
Russia's first parliament, the Duma, meets for the first time. The leaders wanted Russia to become a constitutional monarchy similar to Britain. Since czar was hesitant to share power, the Duma did not end up working. -
Entrance to World War l
Nicholas ll entered Russia into World War l, but Russia was unprepared for the costs. They had weak generals and were poorly equipped. They had many defeats. Russia's involvement in this war revealed the weaknesses of the czarist role and military leadership. -
Women Textile Workers Strike
Women textile workers in Petrograd led a citywide strike. Riots started over low amounts of bread and fuel. Workers didn't want autocracy and wanted the war to be over. At first soldiers shot rioters like instructed, but then began to side with them. -
Factory Workers Storm Winter Palace
Armed factory workers stormed the Winter Palace in Petrograd without warning. They called themselves Bolshevik Red Guards. They took over government offices and arrested leaders of the government. -
Russia and Germany Signed Treaty
Russia and Germany signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Russia surrendered a large part of their territory to Germany and its allies. Angered Russians objected the Bolsheviks and their policies and to murder the royal family. -
Civil War Ends
Russia's civil war ended. Around 14 million Russians died during the 3-year war. Russia became chaotic from destruction, loss of life, hunger, and a worldwide flu epidemic. Bolsheviks showed they were able to seize power and maintain it. -
Lenin Resorts to NEP
Lenin temporarily put aside his plan for a state-controlled economy and resorted to a small-scale version of Capitalism called New Economic Policy (NEP). Peasants could now sell their crops instead of giving them to the government. The government kept control of major industries, banks, and means of communication. Some small factories, businesses, and farms operated under private ownership. -
Joseph Stalin
Lenin suffered a stroke, but survived. This incident created a competition for who would head the Communist Party. The two best men being Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. Stalin was hard, cold, and impersonal. Also, during this time, the country was named Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR).
