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March 1917 Revolution
Soldiers (Cossacks) mutiny and join with strikers in a riot in Petrograd. This leads to the Tsar abdicating his throne and toppling the Russian autocracy. The Duma creates a Provisional Government after the Tsar's brother refuses the crown. -
Provisional Government
This weak governing body thought that the Revolution would renew vigour in Russia's will to fight in WWI. It was also reluctant to make decisions concerning the demands of the people because it was not an elected body. The Russian people who were war-weary and tired of an inactive government looked for a decisive leader who shared their interests. -
The April Theses
Lenin urges the people to take the Revolution further. he promises to give them what the government refused and his slogan of "Peace, Land, and Bread" quickly got him recognized as the leader of the Bolsheviks & Soviets. -
Kornilov Affair
Military leader Kornilov attempts a coup d'etat which is prevented by the Soviets. The Soviets are now the major political power in Russia and, with military support, no obstacle stands between them and total control of the country. -
Bolshevik Revolution
The Bolsheviks are now the major power in the country with the support of both the people and the armed forces. They take over Moscow and the rest of Russia with little opposition. They depose the Provisional Government and Lenin's rule begins. -
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New Government
Lenin fulfills his promises and distributes land to peasants, though in a "government collective" capacity instead of the small privately-owned plots the farmers expected.Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin now unopposed powers in Russia. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
In keeping with his promise of giving the Russians peace, Lenin signed a treaty with Germany' and Russia stopped her involvement in the Great War. Due to this, however, Russia lost a huge amount of its resources, arable land, and population, without which the country will suffer severe hardship. -
The Summer of War Communism
Lenin begins to impose Marxist practices on Russia. Economic and political systems were changed to fit the Communist ideals. All resources were channelled to keep the Red Guard armed and fed; to the detriment of the commonfolk of Russia. -
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The Civil War
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New Economic Policy
After the failure of the "War Communism" principle, Lenin reformed his former policies into a more moderate interpretation of Communism. The government loosened its grip on the economy, a certain degree of private ownership was allowed and farmers could sell surplus produce.This helped resuscitate Russia's economy and the peoples' spirits. -
Treaty of Rapallo
A treaty signed by Soviet Russia and Germany which was meant to ease tensions between the countries and overseen by the League of Nations. Both sides agreed to waive financial and territorial claims each had on the other; in regards to war costs and compensation as well as territory conquered or given up in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. -
Kellogg-Briand Pact
Representatives from almost all major countries sign this treaty renouncing war except in the case of self-defense. Although initially just an effort in America's part to keep itself from being entangled in European alliances, several countries signed the agreement. It was a wasted effort however, as it did not prevent future unprovoked attacks from countries such as Japan in Manchuria. -
1st Five Year Plan
Stalin focuses on the principle of collectivization, creating collective farms in which peasants produced food which would be transported to feed the urban-dwelling factory workers, all in an effort to hasten Russia's industrial development and make production more efficient. -
2nd Five Year Plan
This plan focused more so on industrialization rather than agriculture. Russia's infrastructure was developed and strict quotas were given to factories and manufacturing plants. Workers greatly feared not meeting quotas and the amount of people being punished for insufficient output marks the beginning of the "Purges" era. -
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The Purges
Stalin, paranoid of any opposition to his power, began to systematically eliminate those he believed would stand against him; the majority of whom were high-ranking military officials who would have been valuable in the coming war years ahead. This causes a panic to break out among the population and the beginning of a witch-hunt, causing neighbor to turn on neighbor, accusing everyone of plotting against the government. -
3rd Five Year Plan
This plan was focused on militarizing Russia in anticipation for conflict with Germany. All resources were channelled into weapons and arming and outfitting Russia's armed forces. -
The Nazi-Soviet Pact
Stalin, aware that Russia's military forces were not strong enough to hold up to an attack from Nazi Germany but not wanting to become Germany's ally, signed a non-aggression pact in which both countries agreed to remain neutral to the other.
