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Russian Industrialization (1860-1900)
Nicolas II increased taxes in Russia and in turn increased industrial production, as Russia became the world's fourth leading steel producer. Also, the creation of the Trans-Siberian Railway was introduced, along with the doubling of the number of factories in Russia. The industrial revolution brought terrible working conditions and wages, leading to a desire for change, and the rise of the revolutionary ideas of Karl Marx and the Bolsheviks. -
Russo-Japanese War
In the 1800s, Russia and Japan both wanted control of the territories Korea and Manchuria, so an agreement was put into place. However, Russia broke the agreement, leading Japan to retaliate by attacking a Russian Port. The death of people by the Japanese decreased support for the czar and continued to ignite ideas of revolt in the minds of Russians -
Bloody Sunday
Thousands of factory workers stood in front of the Winter Palace with a petition for Nicholas II, wanting more freedoms and a legislature. Instead of talking, Nicholas II had his soldiers shoot at the crowd, killing several hundred and wounding even more. Violence and strikes spread across Russia, and while Nicholas attempted to create the Duma, a parliament, almost all of the support for the czar had vanished. -
WW1 Involvement
Nicolas II decided to bring Russia into World War One, but the Russians were very unprepared, and within a year had lost 4 million soldiers. While Nicholas II focused on the War, he let his wife in charge of the Russian government, who made poor political choices. Russia was in a desperate condition, and the weakness of the czar showed the people that Nicholas II was not able to rule, so they must turn to someone else. -
March Revolution
Shortages of food and fuel cause women factory workers to lead a citywide strike in Petrograd. Soldiers supported the strikers, and an uprising intended to take down the autocracy was created. Nicholas II left his throne and ended the rule of the czar and Russia, but a strong government did not replace Nicholas II, causing more turmoil. -
Provisional Government + Return of Lenin
A provisional government in Russia was created, but Russians lost support for it when the government wanted to continue to fight in WW1. People grew more radical, and socialists began to have more power than the government. When Lenin returned in this time of chaos, people were willing and eager to give him control, which leads to the rise of the Bolsheviks. -
Red Guards Storm Winter Palace
A group of factory workers, later called the Red Guards took over government offices in the Winter Palace. Provisional Government leaders were arrested and lost all power. Lenin and the Bolsheviks now had total control to make decisions in Russia, including one decision that put their power at risk. -
Russian Civil War (1918-1921)
After loosing territory in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, some people, opposed the Bolsheviks, and they formed the White Army. The White Army was continuously defeated by the commander of the Bolshevik Red Guards, Leon Trotsky, but over 14 million Russians died in the struggle and the famine and disease that followed. The Bolsheviks proved that they would destroy all opposition and remain in power, despite the economic destruction that the Civil War caused. -
Creation of Communist Constitution
Following Lenin's New Economic Policy which led to economic production, The Bolsheviks became known as the Communist Party. The Communists made a Constitution focused on socialist and democratic ideals. Instead of Karl Marx's idea of the workers have control, Russia now had a dictatorship where the communist party has all of the control, which will lead to the rise of Joseph Stalin. -
Stalin Becomes Dictator
Following the death of Lenin, Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin competed for the head of the Communist Party. As General Secretary in 1922, Stalin quietly moved into positions of power, and soon became absolute dictator in 1928. Stalin could now rule with no opposition, which will lead to thousands of deaths in the years to come.
