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Russia enters the First World War
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The February Revolution overthrows the Tsar
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a Provisional Government is established
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Lenin establishes Sovnarkom.
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The October Revolution overthrows the Provisional Government.
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Increasing political centralisation during the Russian Civil War.
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Opposition political parties banned.
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Lenin disbands Constituent Assembly
This occurred gradually during the early years of Bolshevik rule, but a significant turning point was the banning of competing political parties with the Decree on the Press on November 8, 1917, shortly after the October Revolution. This decree effectively suppressed freedom of the press and political opposition. -
Russia becomes a one-party state
The formal establishment of a one-party state occurred with the adoption of the Constitution of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) on July 10, 1918. This constitution enshrined the Bolshevik Communist Party as the ruling party and effectively excluded other political parties from participating in the political process. -
The Communists triumph in the Civil War
The Russian Civil War formally concluded with the defeat of the White Army and the establishment of Bolshevik dominance over most of Russia. The exact date can be somewhat subjective, but a significant event marking the triumph of the Communists was the capture of the Crimea by the Red Army on November 21, 1920. This marked the final defeat of the major anti-Bolshevik forces. -
Party Congress bans factions.
. This decision was made during the Tenth Party Congress of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks), which took place from March 8 to March 16, 1921. This decision was a significant step toward consolidating power within the Communist Party and suppressing internal dissent. -
Lenin dies
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Stalin began to gain massive power
A significant moment marking Stalin's consolidation of power was the 13th Party Congress held from May 23 to May 31, 1924, where Stalin effectively outmaneuvered his rivals, particularly Leon Trotsky, and solidified his position as the General Secretary of the Communist Party.
This congress marked the beginning of Stalin's dominance over the Soviet political landscape. -
Kirov is murdered in Leningrad
Sergei Kirov, a prominent Soviet politician and a close associate of Joseph Stalin, was assassinated on December 1, 1934, in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg). His murder served as a catalyst for the escalation of political repression in the Soviet Union, known as the Great Purge, during which Stalin used Kirov's death as a pretext to eliminate perceived rivals and consolidate his power further. -
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Private criticism of Stalin expressed at the Congress of Victors
it took place after the Soviet Union had seemingly overcome many challenges and achieved significant successes, particularly in industrialization and collectivization. During this congress, there were private criticisms of Stalin's policies and leadership style, although such criticisms were not openly acknowledged or addressed. -
Chernenko died and Gorbachev became General Secretary of the CPSU and leader of the USSR.
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Aleksandr Yakovlev was appointed as Head of the Propaganda Department of the CPSU.
Yakovlev was a reformer known as ‘the godfather of glasnost’. Liberalisation of the media began -
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Gorbachev appointed Boris Yeltsin as Party leader in Moscow.
This started Yeltsin’s rise to power.Yeltsin -
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The 27th Party Congress began. It ended on 6 March. Yeltsin was appointed as a candidate (non-voting) member of the Politburo.
Gorbachev’s new course was set out. It was the biggest change in the Party’s direction since 1961.
Glasnost.
Democratisation. -
Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
The disaster was initially covered up. Soviet citizens were told about it 2 days later. -
Alexei Sakharov, a prominent dissident, was allowed by Gorbachev to return to Moscow from internal exile in Gorky.
Opposition voices gained confidence -
Yeltsin resigned from the Politburo after tensions with Second Secretary of the Party Ligachev and because he felt Gorbachev’s reforms were too slow.
Was a clear sign of his frustration with the slow pace of reforms under Gorbachev and his opposition to the conservative elements represented by figures like Ligachev. This move marked a shift in the Soviet political landscape, empowering regional leaders and catalyzing momentum for political reform and democratization. Ultimately, it set the stage for profound changes that would lead to the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of democratic institutions in Russia. -
Protests by the Armenian minority in Karabakh began and turned violent.
Protests by the Armenian minority in Karabakh began and turned violent on February 20, 1988.
Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, a predominantly Armenian region within Azerbaijan, started peaceful demonstrations demanding reunification with Armenia or greater autonomy. However, these protests escalated into violence between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, leading to the outbreak of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a long-standing territorial dispute that contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. -
Anti-Communist strikes began in Poland and lasted until September.
The anti-Communist strikes in Poland began on August 21, 1980, with workers demanding better conditions and political freedoms. Led by the Solidarity movement, the strikes lasted until September and resulted in significant concessions from the government, including the recognition of Solidarity as an independent trade union. This marked a turning point in the struggle against Communist rule and paved the way for reforms and eventual democratization in Poland. -
The 19th Party Conference began (ended 1 July).
Multi-candidate elections were permitted.
The Congress of People’s Deputies was brought back and would elect the Supreme Soviet. Union elections would take place in 1989.
Radical candidates and independents could now stand for election.
Election campaigns would now have to take place. -
Elections for the Congress of People’s Deputies were held. Yeltsin was elected to the Congress and returned to prominence.
The CPSU won 80% of the seats in the Congress of People’s Deputies but radicals did well.
e.g. Yeltsin won 89% of the vote in Moscow. -
The Tbilisi Massacre. 19 Georgian protestors killed by the Red Army.
The Soviet government blamed local army officers for the killings. This led to the Army withdrawing its support for the Soviet State. This was known as the ‘Tbilisi syndrome’ and led to the Sinatra Doctrine in August. -
June 3-12 The Fergana Massacre: Uzbeks massacred Muslim minority Meshketians in Uzbekistan.
Uzbek mobs massacred Meskhetian Turks in Uzbekistan's Fergana Valley. It highlights how historical grievances, economic disparities, and Soviet policies exacerbated interethnic tensions, leading to outbreaks of violence and loss of life. The Fergana Massacre serves as a poignant example of the complexities and dangers inherent in managing ethnic diversity within multiethnic states. -
Poland elected its first non-Communist government.
Humiliating loss of power for the USSR in the satellite states. -
The Inter-regional Deputies’ Group (IRDG) was formed.
A radical opposition group now existed.
Yeltsin and Sakharov were members. It had 300 members in total. -
August. Gorbachev rejected the Brezhnev Doctrine in favour of the Sinatra Doctrine.
This meant that the USSR would not intervene militarily and would allow all countries to find their own path towards communism. This encouraged nationalism. -
Yeltsin was said to have been devastated after touring the USA and seeing their prosperity compared to that of the USSR.
It deepened his commitment to reform and spurred his efforts to transform Russia's economy and political system towards greater openness and market-oriented policies. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The wall coming down marked the end of the tense standoff between the USA and the Soviet Union.
The event led to the reunification of East and West Germany, making Germany a single, united country again.
It sparked revolutions in Eastern Europe, leading to the end of communist rule in countries like Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia.
The collapse of the wall brought more democracy and freedom to Eastern Europe, as countries embraced new governments and opened up to the rest of the world. -
Czechoslovakia formed the first non-Communist government since 1948.
It symbolized the end of Communist rule and the restoration of democracy, political freedom, and national sovereignty. -
Communist leader of Romania (Ceaucescu) was overthrown.
The overthrow of Communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu in Romania was a momentous event that marked the end of his oppressive regime and the beginning of a new era for the country. It signaled the transition to democracy, the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, and paved the way for economic transformation. Ceaușescu's ousting was a significant milestone in Romania's history, representing a triumph of the people's will and a step towards freedom, democracy, and prosperity. -
19-20 Black January. Gorbachev sent the Red Army to Azerbaijan’s capital to crack down on Azerbaijani independence protests causing up to 170 deaths.
Gorbachev's decision to deploy the Red Army to Azerbaijan to quell independence protests was a pivotal moment in the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It intensified nationalist sentiments, eroded trust in Gorbachev's leadership, and drew international condemnation. Ultimately, it contributed to the unraveling of the Soviet Union and the emergence of independent states in the region. -
March: Elections in the 15 republics took place.
These elections symbolized a definitive shift towards political reform, democratization, and greater autonomy within the republics.They facilitated the emergence of political pluralism, allowed for the expression of nationalist aspirations, and ultimately contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.By empowering local governments and fostering citizen participation, these elections served as a catalyst for profound societal change, signaling the end of an era dominated by authoritarianism -
Yeltsin was elected to the Congress of People’s Deputies of Russia with 72% of the vote in Sverdlovsk.
His resounding triumph not only demonstrated overwhelming popular support but also signaled a profound shift in public sentiment towards reform and democratization.This decisive electoral win catapulted Yeltsin onto the national stage, positioning him as a prominent advocate for change within the Congress of People's Deputies of Russia.It foreshadowed his future leadership roles and served as a testament to the growing demand for political openness and societal transformation. -
Lithuania declared independence from the USSR.
This event was of huge significance. This was the first Union republic to declare independence. Sanctions were imposed but troops were sent in in January 1991 killing 14. This would spark Gorbachev’s attempt to reform the Soviet Constitution. -
Gorbachev was appointed President of the Soviet Union by the Congress of People’s Deputies. Article 6 of the 1977 Consitution was repealed (ended), which meant multi-party elections could now take place.
Gorbachev had not been elected by a popular vote. The Congress was controlled by the Party and so he was seen as being weak.
Allowing multi-party elections was a blow to the power of the CPSU. -
Hungary elected a non-Communist government.
It marked the end of Communist rule and the beginning of a new era of democracy and political freedom. This historic event demonstrated Hungary's transition towards a more pluralistic and open society, setting the stage for economic reforms and closer integration with the West. Overall, the election of a non-Communist government in Hungary symbolized the triumph of democracy over authoritarianism and paved the way for the country's emergence as a modern European state. -
Latvia declared independence.
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Estonia declared independence.
All 3 Baltic republics were now independent of the USSR. -
Yeltsin was elected as Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR).
Yeltsin was now in control of Russia. Gorbachev had begged delegates not to elect Yeltsin. -
Bulgaria elected a non-Communist government.
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Russia adopted a declaration of sovereignty from the Soviet Union.
Russia was on course to declare its independence. This reduced the power of the Soviet State and of the Communist Party. -
The 28th Party Congress began. Gorbachev was challenged for leadership by his once ally Ligachyov but survived. This was the final Party Congress.
It symbolized the end of an era, marking the culmination of Gorbachev's reform efforts and the beginning of the unraveling of the Soviet political system. The fact that Gorbachev survived the challenge at the final Party Congress highlighted the internal tensions and power struggles within the Communist Party, foreshadowing the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union. -
During the 28th Party Congress Yeltsin dramatically resigned from the Party.
His decision to publicly break ties with the Communist Party symbolized a significant rupture with the old order and a bold assertion of his independence from the party establishment. Yeltsin's resignation sent shockwaves through the political landscape, challenging the legitimacy of the Communist Party and emboldening other reform-minded leaders. Yeltsin's resignation further fueled the momentum for change. -
Soviet Referendum on a new constitution took place. 6 republics did not participate. 76% of voters in the 9 republics did vote for constitutional reform. This led to the 9+1 Agreement in April.
The agreement, forged between the central Soviet government and nine republics, represented a crucial step towards decentralization and greater autonomy for the constituent republics. By endorsing constitutional reform through the referendum and subsequent agreement, the Soviet Union acknowledged the growing demand for political restructuring and paved the way for the devolution of power from the center to the periphery. -
The 9+1 Agreement (or the New Union Treaty) was proposed by Gorbachev to be signed on 20 August. This would have created a federation of independent states with a single president called the Union of Sovereign States.
The proposal represented a bold attempt to restructure the Soviet Union into a more decentralized and cooperative entity, accommodating the aspirations for greater autonomy among the constituent republics while maintaining some level of central authority. Gorbachev sought to address the growing demands for political reform and national self-determination within the Soviet Union. However, the treaty faced considerable challenges and ultimately did not materialize as planned -
Russian Presidential election. Yeltsin won with 57% of the vote against Gorbachev’s candidate Ryzhkov who got 16%.
Russia now had a President that rivalled the power of the President of the Soviet Union (Gorbachev). -
The New Union Treaty was finalised and was to be signed on 21 August 1991.
The signing of the treaty was intended to address the growing demands for political reform and national self-determination within the Soviet Union by decentralizing power and granting greater autonomy to the constituent republics. However, despite its finalization, the New Union Treaty faced significant challenges and ultimately did not come into effect. Its failure to be signed symbolized the deepening crisis within the Soviet Union and foreshadowed the impending collapse of the Soviet state. -
The Emergency Committee was formed by 8 senior Communists including the Deputy President, the leader of the Red Army and the leader of the KGB. The Emergency Committee announced Gorbachev had resigned due to ill health.
Gorbachev had effectively been removed from power whilst on holiday in Crimea.
This committee's announcement signaled a direct challenge to the authority of President Gorbachev and the reformist policies he championed.
The Emergency Committee's declaration likely aimed to seize control of the government and halt the ongoing political and economic reforms initiated by Gorbachev, potentially rolling back towards more hardline Communist policies.
Showed deep power struggles and tensions in Russia -
The August Coup took place. Yeltsin made an anti-coup speech standing on a Red Army tank outside the White House.
Boris Yeltsin emerged as a prominent figure opposing the coup.Yeltsin delivered an anti-coup speech while standing on a Red Army tank outside the White House in Moscow. This iconic moment symbolized Yeltsin's leadership and resistance against the coup plotters, rallying support for democracy and reform.Yeltsin's courageous stance galvanized the public and emboldened opposition to the coup, ultimately contributing to its failure and the collapse of the hardline Communist regime. -
The August Coup failed.
Despite the attempted seizure of power by hardline Communists, their coup ultimately collapsed in the face of widespread public resistance and opposition led by figures like Boris Yeltsin. The failure of the coup demonstrated the resilience of democratic forces and the determination of the people to reject authoritarianism and embrace political change.
The coup destroyed the possibility of passing the New Union Treaty and, with this, the Soviet Union. -
Yeltsin suspended the CPSU from activity in Russia.
Yeltsin's suspension of the CPSU in Russia marked the end of Communist authority post-August Coup. It signaled a break from the past, emphasizing democratic governance. This move reflected a commitment to political pluralism, symbolizing the dawn of a new era in Russian history, free from Communist constraints.