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Alexander III succeeds his father to the throne.
He clung to an autocratic government where he had all the power. He used harsh measures to get rid of revolutionaries and people labeled as dangerous. He planted the seed for a bad government that would be the downfall of czarist rule. -
Period: to
Russia Industrializes
Nicholas II's most capable minister launched a program to move Russia forward. Russia's economy is drastically impacted by industrialization; many factories are built, and the steel industry flourishes. However, problems such as bad working conditions, low wages, and the outlaw of trade unions moved the revolutionary movement forward. Marxist revolutionaries believe a "dictatorship of the proletariat" will happen. -
Nicholas II succeeds Alexander III to the throne.
Nicholas continues the autocratic rule of Russia, however a steadily increasing amount of people are angry with the Romanov czarist rule. -
The Russo - Japanese War
Japan and Russia originally signed an agreement over the territories (Korea and Manchuria) that they were fighting over. Russia broke these agreements, and therefore Japan attacked Russia at Port Arthur, Manchuria. Repeated Russian losses humiliated the Russians, and revolts and general unrest followed this attack. -
Bloody Sunday
Many people approach the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg carrying a petition asking for simple demands such at better working conditions, personal freedom, and a national legislature. The generals of Nicholas II ordered to shoot into the crowd, leading to over 1000 casualties. This mass killing enraged civilians and provoked waves of violence and strife around the country. -
Creation of Duma
After the madness of Bloody Sunday, Nicholas II reluctantly promised more freedom to the people of Russia. The step to this was the creation of Duma, the first parliament of Russia. However, the leaders of this parliament wanted a constitutional monarchy, and Duma was dissolved after a matter of weeks. -
Russia Enters WWI
Russia was no match for Germany's superior supplies, and were unprepared for the military and economic costs. There were over 4 million casualties, and morale was low as soldiers mutinied, deserted, and disobeyed orders. Prices inflated, and the public wanted the war to end. -
Nicholas II Moves to the Warfront
Nicholas II moved his headquarters to the warfront to attempt to rally his troops to victory. In his absence, his wife Czarina Alexandra was supposed to lead the government. However, the mysterious Rasputin eased her sick son's symptoms for his illness. In gratitude, she let him make key political decisions and ignored the chief advisers. Rasputin resisted change and gave his friends important positions, adding more chaos to Russia. -
The March Revolution
Women textile workers in Petrograd lead a city-wide strike. Over the course of the next 5 days, riots over bread and fuel shortages happened all throughout the country. The rioters shouted: "Down with the autocracy!" and "Down with the war!" -
Provisional Government Overthrown
After the March Revolution, Czar Nicholas II abdicated his throne. A provisional government was put in place (led by Alexander Kerensky) and they decided to keep fighting in WWI. Armed factory workers stormed the Winter Palace, arresting the officers there and taking over the offices. These workers called themselves the Bolshevik Red Guards, and this event led to the Bolshevik Party being in power, led by Vladimir Lenin. -
Treaty of Brest - Litovsk
The signing of this treaty between Germany and Russia ended Russia's involvement in WWI. The terms of this treaty were that Russia had to give up a lot of land to Germany, which embarrassed and angered the Russians. -
Period: to
Civil War in Russia
The Red Army was fighting against the White Army in this Russian civil war. The Red Army was comprised of the Bolsheviks, whereas the White Army included many different groups that disliked the Bolsheviks. The Red Army, led by Leon Trotsky, prevailed, for they were more cohesive and were better supplied. Over 14 million Russians died from this war and the following famine, and Russia was again in chaos. -
New Economic Policy (NEP)
After the civil war, the whole economy needed to be rebuilt. A New Economic Policy (NEP) was established, and it actually had more capitalistic ideas. Peasants were allowed to sell their own crops themselves, and small businesses could have private ownership. It also encouraged foreign investment. Slowly, Russia's economic production reached to where it was before. -
USSR Formed
Bolsheviks renamed to Communist Party after Marx's ideas. Soviets were used to control the revolution by being local governments. Russia amassed an empire by negotiating with some Eastern European countries and together becoming the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) -
Lenin Dies
Lenin dies (he had a series of strokes in his past). This sets up a competition to replace him as the leader of the Communist Party. The competition is between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. -
Stalin in Control
Joseph Stalin manipulated his way into the leader of the Communist Party. He made deals, put his supporters in positions of power, successfully beating Leon Trotsky and eventually exiling him. Russia was basically a dictatorship under his rule.
