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Alexander III
He was a very hated ruler. His long line of relatives were powerful leaders who all lead an autocracy. To enforce this autocracy, Alexander III used harsh punishments and strict rules to ensure that his people loyal to him and only him. -
Nicholas II and Industrialization
He was a ruler that farther advanced the Industrialization of Russia. Russia was one of the fastest growing industries in the world at the time. Although he still ran an autocracy, he was very focused on the Industrialization of his country. -
Bloody Sunday and the creation of the Duma
200,000 workers and their families marched to the czar's Winter Palace in St. Petersburg asking for better working conditions, personal freedom, and an elected legislature. Nicholas II ordered his men to shoot them. 1.000 were wounded and hundreds killed on this day that was quickly named, "Bloody Sunday." -
WWI and Rasputin
Nicholas II decided to enter Russia into the war. Russia was very unprepared and million of Russian soldiers were murered or taken prisoner. Rasputin was a mystical "holy man" who was seen to have magical healing powers. He was murdered in 1916 by a group of nobles based on fear of losing their politcal positions. -
March Revolution and Provisional Government
200,000 workers protested the war and the form of government. The soldiers started siding with the protestors and started a large rebellion against the government. The provisional government was a temporary government lead by Alexander Kerensky. Rebellions further uprose and the rebellions. -
Lenin and the Creation of the Bolsheviks
Lenin returned to Russia in 1917 after many years of exile. Lenin quickly took control of small lands but started gaining supporters and followers of his plan for a new government. -
Bolshevik Takeover
Factory workers stormed the Winter Palace in Petrograd and took control. Lenin ordered that all of the government officials be arrested and all of the land to be distributed amongst all of the peasants. The Bolsheviks also signed a treaty with germany to stop the fighting and surrender the war. -
Russia's Civil War
The Bolveshiks had to deal with the rebels in Russia known as the White Army. The White Army wanted to get rid of Lenin and some wanted to bring back the czar. Many western countries aided the White army but it was of little help. -
Lenin's NEP
Lenin wanted to restore the economy and restructure the government. He developed a version of capatilism called the New Economic Policy (NEP). This government encouraged foreign trade, controlled banks, major industries, and means of communication. Some businesses were run by private ownership. -
Rise of Communism
In 1922, the country was named the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, in honor of the councils that helped launch the Bolshevik Revolution. The Bolsheviks were renamed the Communist Party. The name was from Karl Marx's writing of the word communism to describe the classless society of the future.
