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Nicholas II becomes the czar
The current czar, Alexander III, dies from terminal kidney disease. Nicholas II, Alexander III's son, takes his place as czar of Russia. Nicholas II was largely unprepared for the title of czar; at a time of immense social and political change, he continued autocratic and outdated policies and lacked military strategy and sympathy for his citizens, ultimately culminating in his abdication and death during the revolution in 1917. -
Split of the Marxist Revolutionaries (July 30 to August 23)
During a meeting of the Russian Social-Democratic Labor Party (RSDLP), the party decides to split into two groups—the Mensheviks and the Bolsheviks. Mensheviks desired social acceptance of Marxism; the more radical Bolsheviks sought the ascension of a small number of committed party members to power. Lenin, a prominent Bolshevik, later led the overthrow of the Provisional government and distribution of farmland to peasants and control of factories to workers, beginning communism in Russia. -
Bloody Sunday
In St. Petersburg, 200,000 unsatisfied citizens peacefully protested at the czar’s Winter Palace for safer working conditions, greater liberty, and an elected legislature. Soldiers stationed at the palace fired into the crowd, injuring 1000+ people and killing a few hundred. Bloody Sunday led to violent uprisings in Russia and the creation of the "Duma," a national legislature, that was dissolved 10 weeks later by Nicholas II because it advocated Russia becoming a constitutional monarchy. -
Rise of Rasputin and Nicholas II leads Russian war effort in WWI
After extreme losses and defeats on the battlefield, Nicholas II temporarily left his wife in charge of Russia while he rallied morale of the troops. Rasputin, a holy healer, manipulated Nicholas' wife into giving him political power by "curing" her hemophiliac son for short periods of time. Rasputin was assassinated after great difficulty, and Russian citizens disliked the czar and his wife even more after they displayed incapability to solve Russia's problems. -
March Revolution
About 128,000 militant women textile workers participate in a massive strike in Petrograd. Their chief demands are an end to Russia's involvement in WWI and more food, as well as an end to autocracy. This ultimately results in Nicholas II's abdication and a creation of a temporary provisional government headed by Alexander Kerensky, though socialist revolutionaries formed local councils that had more influence than the provisional government, and eventually overtook it altogether. -
Lenin Returns to Russia
Germany decided to give him passage to Russia believing his anti-war beliefs would undermine Russian involvement in WWI. He traveled in a sealed boxcar and arrived in Petrograd; in his April Theses, Lenin called for an end to the Provisional Government, and planned to end Russia's participation in the war. After the Bolsheviks gained more supporters, he led a successful coup to take over the government, arguably the most important event during the entire Russian Revolution(s). -
November Revolution
On 11/7/17, the Bolsheviks take over Petrograd, except for the Winter Palace. The next day, "Bolshevik Red Guards" removed Kerensky from power and replaced the Provisional Government with the Council of People's Commissars (Sovnarkom), led by Lenin. Soon, farms were distributed to peasants and control of factories given to the workers; Lenin now officially oversaw Russian diplomacy and its transformation to communism. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The signing of this treaty between Russia and Germany takes Russia out of WWI but gave up a lot of land to Germany and its allies. Many Russians felt this treaty was humiliating and fueled resentment of the Bolsheviks. Consequently, a "White Army" formed, composed of anyone and everyone who opposed Bolshevik rule, thus starting a civil war; led by Trotsky, the Red Army crushed the White Army, demonstrating the Bolshevik's ability to seize power and maintain it. -
New Economic Policy (NEP)
With Russia's economy stagnating and workforce decreasing, Lenin implemented the NEP to allow a small-scale version of capitalism regulated by the government. The NEP permitted the selling of excess crops, allowed private ownership of some businesses, farms, and factories, and promoted foreign investment. Though healthy for the economy, it created about 3 million "NEPmen" who amassed wealth through private trade, which Stalin later abolished in 1931 in an effort to put NEPmen out of business. -
Lenin suffers first stroke
Being exposed to stressful situations and confrontations, Lenin eventually suffered a partially paralyzing stroke. After two more strokes, he was unable to speak and resigned from politics completely, dying on 01/21/24. During this time, Stalin positioned his supporters in powerful governmental positions and restricted Lenin's access to information, eventually taking over the Communist Party in 1928 and exiling his opponent Trotsky in 1929, thus securing his role as dictator of the U.S.S.R.
