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Russian Industrialization
Between 1863 to 1900, there was a large industrial push in Russia. The number of Russian factories more than doubled over this time, but even with this, they were behind countries in western Europe. Foreign investors were sought and taxes were raised to combat this, and the people were not happy with these changes. -
The Russo-Japanese War
Russia broke their agreement with Japan over control of Manchuria and Korea. They began their invasion in Port Arthur, Manchuria, but were stopped by the Japanese suffering heavy losses, resulting in revolt at home. The war was ended by the United States with the Treaty of Portsmouth. -
Bloody Sunday
200,000 workers approached Czar Nicholas II's palace with a petition asking for better working conditions, more national freedom, and an elected nation legislature. The workers were fired upon wounding more than 1,000 and killing several hundred. The revolts afterwards made Czar Nicholas create Russia's first parlament, Duma, but it was dissolved ten weeks later. -
World War I
Nicholas II decided to pull Russia into World War I, even though it's generals were weak and it's soldiers under-equipped. Thousands of Russians were killed by German soldiers. Both soldiers and civilians severely disliked the war and disliked the Czar for pulling their country into the war when it was not ready, militarily and economically. -
The March Revolution
Women textile workers in Petrograd led a citywide strike over the war and the autocracy. This led to a riots flaring up over low food levels. Czar Nicholas II was forced to give up control of the country and was executed a year later with the rest of his family. -
The Provisional Government
After Czar Nicholas II was forced to step down, the Duma put into place a provisional government. It lost the support of the people after the Duma decided to continue fighting in World War I. The citizens became more upset and began forming soviets in Russian cities. -
Lenin Returns to Russia
In 1917, Lenin was sent back to Russia by the Germans. They though that Lenin could start a revolution in the unstable condition that Russia was in now. In exchange for letting him back into Russia, he would have to leave World War I. -
The Bolshevik Revolution
Workers stormed the Winter Palace. They called themselves the Bolshevik Red Guards and arrested the leaders of the provisional government. The Bolsheviks took the positions and seized control over the nation. -
Civil War in Russia
While the Bolsheviks had control of the government, they still had to fight the enemies in Russia who opposed them. Their enemies, or the White Army, consisted of many different groups who had different beliefs: some people wanted a democratic government, some people wanted another czar to rule, and others wanted a different form of socialism. This led to them being uncooperative towards each other and ultimately losing to the Red Army. -
Stalin Becomes Dictator of the Soviet Union
In 1922, Lenin had a stroke and survived. This led to the communist party having to come up with a successor for Lenin, and Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin were in competition for it. Stalin got the edge on Trotsky by getting his supporters in high positions in government, causing him to become dictator when Lenin died in 1928, and forcing Trotsky into exile.
