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Alex III comes to power
In 1881, Alexander III succeeded his father and stopped all current reforms happening in Russia. Alexander III stuck with the principles of autocracy that his grandfather Nicholas I instated. He also forced everyone speak Russian and follow the Russian Orthodox Church (Russification). Russification sparked nationalistic pride in the minority ethnic groups which contributed to revolution. -
Industrialization
By 1900 Russia had become number four in the world for the production of steel. This allowed Russia to start constructing the Trans-Siberian Railway which would become the world's longest railway. Industrialization brought discontent to the people of Russia due to grueling working conditions, low wages, and child labor. This discontent sparked many revolutionary movements fighting for the people. -
Russo-Japanese War
The two nations had signed agreements over the territory but Russia broke them. Japan retaliated by attacking the Russians at Port Arthur, Manchuria. News of repeated Russian losses sparked unrest and lead to a revolt in the midst of war. -
The First Russian Parliament
In October 1905 Nicholas II promised more freedom for the people and started the Russian Parliament. The Parliament was run by moderates who wanted Russia to become a constitutional monarchy. He was too hesitant to share his power so it was dissolved after ten short weeks; this decision made the people of Russia who desired more freedom upset. -
Bloody Sunday
On January 22, 1905, about 200,000 workers and his families approached the czar's Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. They carried out a petition asking for better working conditions, more personal freedom, and an elected national legislature. More than 1,000 were wounded and several hundred were killed. Bloody sunday provoked a wave of violent strikes that spread across the country which sparked different protests and revolts. -
Entering World War I
In 1914, Nicholas II made the fateful decision to enter WWI with a very unprepared and poorly equipped military with no economic backing. Within a year Russia had over 4,000,000 troops either killed, injured, or taken prisoner. This showed the weaknesses of the czarist rule which would cause protests and continuous revolt attempts. -
The March Revolution
In March 1917, women textile workers led a citywide strike that would explode into an uprising. This uprising wanted autocracy and Nicholas II to be gone; eventually revolutionaries executed Nicholas II and his family. This uprising was one of the first major revolts in which a leader was abdicated. -
Bolsheviks Takeover
Within a couple days of the Bolsheviks taking over Lenin ordered for all farmland to be distributed amongst the peasants. Russia and Germany made a peace treaty which surrendered a large part of Russian territory to Germany and their allies. The surrender of Russian land caused widespread anger and revolutionaries had already objected to the Bolshevik policies. This objection gave foreshadowing to revolution in Russia against the Bolsheviks. -
Civil War in Russia
In 1918, the White Army which was composed of people who had different views but all united to fight against the Bolsheviks. The war left 14,000,000 Russians dead and left Russia in chaos. The Bolshevik victory showed they were able to maintain power over other revolution attempts. -
Stalin becomes Dictator
After Lenin suffered from a stroke Stalin rose to power by filling positions with his supporters. Stalin took total control of the Communist Party and forced Trotsky into exile giving Stalin absolute power over Russia. This event shows that Stalin used a revolution to obtain what he wanted which was a dictatorship
