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Period: to
Population Increase
ABOUT: Russia's population increased by 61 million people, and agricultural production could not keep pace.
SIGNIFICANCE: Since Nicholas II was unwilling to enact the changes needed to save the Romanov dynasty, including delegating authority to the Duma, this event caused even poorer views of the Tsar. -
Period: to
Russian defeat
ABOUT: Russia coveted Lushun on the asian mainland, which gave them wealthy mineral resources, but Japan attacked the Russian positions and claimed Lushun, as well as seized economic concessions in Manchuria,
SIGNIFICANCE: This was the first time that a non-Western nation had defeated one of the great European powers and the Tsar 's political authority was undermined. It could no longer ignore the growing cries for political change, hence, the revolution. -
Period: to
Russian Revolution
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Bloody Sunday
ABOUT: A day when workers led by Father Gapon marched on the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg to make their demands known to the Tsar, Nicholas II. Guards shot the workers and a number of them were killed.
SIGNIFICANCE: This event brought unrest throughout major cities in Russia, and many strikes followed afterwards. As well as the beginning of the revolution. -
Duma dismissed
(not actual date)
ABOUT: The Tsar, Nicholas II, dismissed the Duma, a Russian version of an elected, representative national assembly.
SIGNIFICANCE: This angered the people, because they no longer had a say in government, and it pushed further thoughts of revolution. -
Tsar takes over army.
(not actual date above, date unknown)
ABOUT: Nicholas II decides to take direct command of the Russian army.
SIGNIFICANCE: Now, whenever Russia suffered losses, it would be a bad reflection on the Tsar, making the people undermine his authority further. -
Rasputin assassinated
(not actual day)
ABOUT: A right-wing group dedicated to saving the Romanov dynasty assassinated Rasputin, a mystic man who had a great deal of influence over the Tsarina and her decisions while she was in charge, basically controlling the government through her with scandalous dealings.
SIGNIFICANCE: The Romanov's decisions were not longer influenced by outside sources and feelings of opposition towards them were lessened, if only for a short period of time. -
Period: to
Battle losses
ABOUT: The Russian army suffered many severe battle losses and over 2 million men deserted the army.
SIGNIFICANCE: This was one of the causes for the Feb. 23-26 riots because there was a shortage of bread and coal, making living conditions on the war front impossible. -
Period: to
February Revolution
ABOUT: Shortages of bread and coal caused riots and demonstrations in the streets of Saint Petersburg. Tsar's troops went in to stop the demonstrators, but ended up fighting with them.
SIGNIFICANCE: This event turned the Tsar's own troops against him, and made him and his officials go into hiding, letting a provisional government come into place. -
Provisional Government established in Russia
ABOUT: The Romanov dynasty was overthrown and the Duma established a provisional government to manage the affairs of the state until elections could be held in October. Prince Georgi Lvov became the first prime minister.
SIGNIFICANCE: This event stopped the Romanov's line of power, which they had held for 300 years. -
Nicholas II abdicated
ABOUT: Nicholas II abdicated himself and his son, and offered the thrown to his brother, who refused.
SIGNIFICANCE: This event ended the Romanov dynasty, after being in power for 300 years. Made way for a new provisional government and more democracy. -
Period: to
Huge Demonstrations
ABOUT: Huge demonstrations occurred on this date that nearly tipped the balance of power into the Bolsheviks' hands, but the provisional government accused the leader, Lenin, of being a German agent. The Bolsheviks' presses were smashed, and Lenin fled to Finland.
SIGNIFICANCE: The Bolsheviks' no longer had their leader, and Russia was stuck with a government that was keeping them in the war. -
Bolsheviks seize power
ABOUT: (November 7) Red Bolshevik troops stormed stragetic locations in Petrograd, including the Winter Palace. Members of the provisonal government were arrested and soviet authority was established.
SIGNIFICANCE: This event put Lenin and the Bolsheviks in power, and Russia would now be pulled out of the war. -
Period: to
Post Revolution
ABOUT: Serious food shortages affected industrial labour. 7.5 million people died from starvation, disease, and ravages of civil war.
SIGNIFICANCE: These years showed to consequences of signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
ABOUT: In order to get out of the war, as Lenin had promised during the revolution, Russia was forced to sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany.
SIGNIFICANCE: Signing this treaty lost Russia a huge chunk of land which consisted of 60 million people, 26 per cent of the railway system, 33 per cent of the manufacturing industries, 73 per cent of the iron industries, and 75 per cent of the coal fields. These events caused civil war throughout Russia. -
Lenin died
ABOUT: Lenin, the leader of the Bolshevik government, died from a serious stroke after a Congress meeting.
SIGNIFICANCE: Russia no longer had a leader and a power struggle ensued within the Communist party.
