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February Revolution Begins
Deteriorating living conditions prompted several strikes to take place in Petrograd for bread during International Women’s Day. The Duma, which was supposed to act as representatives of the people, proved to be ineffectual after repeated overrides by the tsar. Later, the strike had grown and solders were called from the Petrograd garrison to suppress the growing unrest in the city. However, the disillusioned solder’s eventually joined the protestors on the streets. -
Order No. 1
The Petrograd Soviet: Order No. 1 was an order from the Soviet for the military to only follow the orders of the Soviet, and to dismiss orders from the Provisional Government. Lacking the necessary power to contest the order, the Provisional Government was shown to be weaker than their Soviet counterpart. -
Tsar Abdicates Throne
“We have thought it well to renounce the Throne of the Russian Empire and to lay down the supreme power.”– Nicholas II’s Abdication Proclamation
With the upheaval of public unrest looming overhead, Nickolas II was forced to abdicate the throne. Although the proclamation originally transferred the power to Nickolas II’s brother, Grand Duke Michael (Mikhail) Alexandrovich, Alexandrovich declined. Without a suitable replacement for the tsar, the 300 year reign of the Romanov dynasty came to an end. -
Lenin's Arrival
The Provisional Government allowed individuals who were exiled under the Tsar's rule to reenter the country. Lenin, having been exiled a decade prior, boarded a sealed railway car from Switzerland to Sweden. German authorities allowed Lenin to travel through areas of their control in the hopes that his ideals would work against the Russian war effort. Lenin reached Russia on April 16th. -
April Theses
After his arrival in Russia, Lenin introduced his April Thesis. The thesis outlined what Lenin felt were important changes that Russia needed to undergo to proceed forward as a nation. He maintained a critical view on the ongoing WWI battles, and urged for a Soviet government. -
April Crisis
The minister of Foreign Affairs Pavel Milyukov sent a telegraph to the Allies of WWI reassuring them that Russia would still participate in WWI to defeat Germany and achieve an Allied victory. Following the release of these statements, mass protests of 100,000 workers and soldiers emerged in Petersburg to end the ongoing conflict. Milyukov was removed from office, and six socialist Ministers were included in the Committee. -
The July Days
“Peace, Bread, and Land” – Bolshevik slogan
Workers and Solders conducted demonstrations in Petrograd using Bolshevik slogans. Armed conflicts soon emerged against the Provisional Government. The original cause of the demonstration was lost and by nightfall the protestors had cleared. Fearing a coup d’état, the Provisional Government presented evidence that Lenin was working with the German government. These accusations led to arrests and beating of Bolshevik members while Lenin fled to Finland. -
Alexander Kerensky Takes Office
The Provisional Government underwent restructuring and Alexander Kerensky took office as its Prime Minister. Previously the Minister of Justice, and later promoted to Minister of War, Kerensky was viewed in a positive light by the working class and his previous successes in those positions. -
The Kornilov Affair
(Exact date unknown - Estimated to have occured during late August)
Troops under General Lavr Kornilov (pictured front center) were dispatched toward Petrograd. Fearing that Kornilov may have been planning a coup, Kerensky fired Kornilov and resorted to arming soviet troops, many of which were Bolsheviks, to protect Petrograd from a possible attack. Several Bolshevik members were also released from prison after soviet request. -
Lenin Returns to Russia
Prior to his return to Russia, Lenin had been sending letters urging Bolshevik leaders to seize power from the Provisional Government. However, opposition claimed that the move would be premature, and would only create a fragile Bolshevik government if successfully executed. However, soon after his arrival, Lenin was able to convince the Bolsheviks to plan an overthrow of the Provisional Government. -
The October Revolution
The Bolsheviks with the help of Red Guard and sailors of Kronstadt stormed the royal palace where Provisional Government officials were staying. By that time Kerensky had fled the country and the remaining government officials were arrested. The Bolsheviks seized power and with the dismantlement of the Provisional Government, Vladimir Lenin was elevated to the position of chairman of the newly established Council of People's Commissars in the new Marxist Russia.
