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Serf's Emancipation
Alexander the II issued 17 legislatures that freed Russian Serfs. After they had been freed they were then allowed to own property and buy land. They could also trade, marry who they wished to, vote and sue other people. -
Zemstvos
The Zemstvo was a form of self-government from 1864-1917. It was a major liberal reform in Alexander II reign. This was an attempt to make the government more effective and gave nobles a bigger say in the government. The image is of Zemstvo postage stamps they issued. -
Russification
Russification was a policy created by Alexander the III. He believed all people should become "Great Russians." And he also believed that people had to be Russians first rather than a Kasak or Cossak. -
Russo-Japanese War
This war was fought between the Russian Empire and the Japanese Empire. It started when the Japanese plan to divide Manchuria and Korea was rejected. They wanted to divide them into spheres of influence. The Japanese decided to launch a surprise naval attack against a Russian port. -
The Russian Revolution
This war was started when a group of defenseless workers decided to march to the Winter Palace to protest Czar Nicholas II. They were even led by a priest. When all of a sudden troops started firing into the crowd! This event led to a ton, of social and political unrest for everyone in Russia. -
The Duma
The Duma was a Russian assembly with an advisory or legislative function. It means "to think" or "to consider." This was introduced in 1906 by Tsar Nicholas II. -
Assassination at Sarajevo
The assassination of Franz Ferdinand is said to be the immediate cause of World War 1. Ferdinand was the heir to the Austrian Empire and a part of Sarajevo called Bosnia wanted to be free of Austrian rule. Buy luck his driver took some wrong turns and ended up stopping right in front of a man that was part of the black hand club. His name was Gavrilo Princip. Gavrilo pulled out his revolver and shot both Ferdinand and his wife killing both of them. -
Grigori Rasputin
Rasputin started as just a peasant. But he became a mystical faith healer and even a trusted friend to the Nicholas II family. He was able to heal their only son and became Nicholas' adviser. He was cruelly murdered by Prince Felix. -
The February Revolution
The February Revolution, which ironically took place in March was a revolution focused around Petrograd. Petrograd was the capitol of Russia and is now St. Petersburg. During this time members of Imperial Parliament, also known as the Duma, took control of the country. They then formed the Russian Provisional Government. -
"Peace, Land and Bread"
In October, the Lenin promised people peace, land and bread to gain the popular support. The Bolsheviks only used this statement to overthrow the Provisional Government and gain control. And this plan actually worked! -
The Red and White
This civil war was fought between communists and people who went against them. The white side didn't want to restore the Tsar. And in the end the Red team won and started an era called the "Red Terror." -
Brest-Litovsk Treaty
This was a peace treaty signed by the Bolsheviks and the Central Powers. This treaty ended the Russian participation in World War 1. -
Assassination of Czar Nicholas II
After Nicholas II had abdicated from the thrown the Bolsheviks decided to kill Nicholas and his family. They decided to do this to bring an end to the Romanov family dynasty. They did not help the aristocracy and were bad for the people who wanted change. -
Treaty of Versailles
This was another Peace treaty signed at the end of the World War. It ended the war between Germany and the other allied powers. It was signed exactly 5 years after the assassination of the Archduke. -
The Soviets
The Soviets were a political organization. They also had governmental bodies and are associated with the Soviet Union army and the Russian Revolution. -
Coup D'etat
The Coup D'etat was a military launch against the Provisional Government. It was launched by the Bolsheviks and very little blood was spilled. And within two they had created a new government and put Lenin as its head.
