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February Revolution
Due to food and coal shortages, strikes and riots broke out in the streets of Petrograd. (At this time, Tsar Nicholas II was away from the capital because he was visiting troops on the WW1 front.) Supported by huge crowds of industrial workers, the protestors refused to leave the streets. This event did NOT express the wishes of the majority of the Russian population. -
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Russian Revolution of 1917 (a.k.a. Second Russian Revolution)
The Russian Revolution of 1917 is a collective term for a series of key events in Russian history. Because of this, Russia's imperial autocracy was ended, and the beginnings of Communist ideas were started in the government. -
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February Revolution
Although disapproved of by the majority of Russians, the February Revolution (named because of its date on February 23-27 on the old calendar) started the Russian Revolution of 1917. -
February Revolution Spreads
Now spread to all of Petrograd's workers, irate mobs destroyed police stations. -
Troops Sent to Stop Uprising
In an effort to put an end to the February Revolution, troops were sent. Instead of stopping the demonstrators, some troops joined them. Other troops opened fire and killed some of the demonstrators. -
Tsar Nicholas II Abdicates his Throne
At the urging of the Russian Duma and their representatives Aleksandr Ivanovich Guchkov and Vasilii Vitalievich Shulgin, Tsar Nicholas II resigns from his throne in favor of his brother, Grand Duke Michael. Nicholas and his family were later taken into custody. -
Fall of Russia's Monarchy
Brother of Tsar Nicholas II, Grand Duke Michael refused the Russian crown. This ultimately brought an end to the Russian monarchy, and, led by Prince Georgy Lvov, the Provisional Government came to power. -
Vladmir Lenin Exiled Because of Bolshevik Protest
After arresting Bolshevik leaders, the Russian Provisional Government spreads the rumor that Lenin is a German spy. Lenin is then exiled to Finland. 400 people are injured from this protest. -
Kerensky Becomes New Prime Minister
Prince Georgy Yevgenyevich Lvov resigns both titles as Russia's prime minister and minister of the interior of the Provisional Government. Socialist Alexander Kerensky accepts the position of Russia's new prime minister. -
Kornilov Arrested
After a failed coup attempt, commander-in-chief Lavr G. Kornilov was arrested. Plotting against the Provisional Government, Kornilov and his forces advanced to Petrograd, Russia's capital at the time. To prepare for the attack, Kerensky released imprisoned Bolsheviks and allowed them to arm workers. However, Kornilov's forces broke up before reaching the capital, and the coup ended without violence. -
Lenin Sneaks into Russia
After being exiled from the country, Bolshevik Party member and revolutionary Vladmir Lenin sneaks back into Russia and arrives in Petrograd. -
Military Revolutionary Committee
The Petrograd Soviet, a special city council for Russia's capital, forms the Military Revolutionary Committee. Created by the Bolshevik Party, the committee helped prepare and carry out the October Revolution. -
October Revolution (a.k.a. Bolsehvik Revolution)
Led by Bolshevik Party leader Vladimir Lenin, revolutionaries launched a nearly bloodless coup d'état against the Russian Provisional Government. They occupied government buildings and other strategic locations in Petrograd. Preparation for the coup lasted only 6 months. -
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October Revolution
Also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, this event (named because of its date on October 24-25 on the old calendar) caused an uproar in Russia. During these hours, the Winter Palace was stormed and a coup d'état overtook the Russian Provisional Government. After this event, Russia was introduced to the idea of Communism by the Bolshevik party. -
Storming of Winter Palace
At night, troops consisting of workers, soldiers, and sailors from the Military Revolutionary Committee captured the Winter Palace, which was the HQ of Kerensky's provisional government. Overthrown by the Bolsheviks, the ministers of the government are arrested. -
Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic is Born
With authorization from the All-Russian Congress of Soviets, revolutionary and Communist Vladmir Lenin proclaimed the new Bolshevik government, called the Council of People's Commissars. Chaired by Lenin himself, the council established a secret police force called the Cheka and gave workers control of factories while confiscating the property of large landowners, the Russian Orthodox Church, and opposers of the revolution. -
Execution of Tsar Nicholas II and Family
After the events of the Russian Revolution of 1917, Tsar Nicholas II and his family, which include his wife, Alexandra, and children, Alexis, Anastasia, Tatiana, Maria, and Olga, were killed. The killers hid their bodies near Yekaterinburg, Russia.
