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Period: to
February Revolution
The first wave of revolution, from the rumblings of peasant revolts through the return of Lenin from his exile. -
International Women's Day
The women workers of Petrograd go on strike, marching on factories, shouting for bread. -
Half of Petrograd Strikes
200,000 workers in Petrograd join the women's strike -
Most of Petrograd Strikes
300,000 workers in total are now on strike in Petrograd, demanding changes and an end to the war. Also bread. -
Duma Dissolved
The Tsar disbands the Duma, presumably for incompetance. -
The First Socialist Muitiny
Some of the 4th company of the Pavlovskii Guards Regiment muitiny and join the Socialist crowds -
Police Crackdown
100 arrests are made of strike leaders. Soldiers fire into some of the crowds. -
More Soldiers Muitiny
66,000 soldiers in and around Petrograd have also mutinied and joined the Socialist strikers. -
Duma Reforms
Key members of the Duma reform on their own, forming the Provisional Committee of the Duma. This is the fore runner of the Provisional Government. -
The Beginning of the Soviets
Elsewhere in the Duma, in the same physical building, worker-elected deputies form their own institution of government, the Soviet of Workers Deputies. This is the first true political moment of Soviet power. -
Period: to
The Existence of the Provisional Government
A confusing time, where the Russian political system vascilates between Soviet power, the possibility of a liberal, capitalistic democracy, and a return to autocratic rule. Dating from the recreation of the Duma, to the Second All Russia Congress of the Soviets' declaration of "All Power To the Soviets." -
Order No. 1
The Soviet meets and issues Order No. 1, which commands soldiers on the front lines and elsewhere, unless those commands were sanctioned by the Soviet. Essentially, they've taken command of the soldiers. -
The Tsar Abdicates
Yup. -
Lenin Returns
Lenin returns from exile, publishing his April Thesis and bringing his support of "conquest of power by the soviets of workers' deputies," beginning his rise to power. -
Period: to
Centerist Ineptitude
The Mensheviks and SRs are the primary powers of the Provisional Government. Hopelessly divided and unable to do much of anything at all. -
Coalition Government Formed
The Provisional Government forms a coalition with a very small Soviet minority. -
All Power to the Soviets
The Petrograd Soviet votes for the first time for the Bolshevik resolution "All Power To The Soviets" -
Lenin Announces His Intentions
During the First All-Russia Conference, Lenin stands up and unequivocally announces that the Bolsheviks will take power. -
Vote to Continue the War
The Conference inexplicably (really due to the extreme Soviet minority and the centerest and liberal leanings of the Provisional Government) votes to continue fighting the War. -
Kerensky Offensive
A push into German territories with an exhausted army only half obeying a failing Provisional Government. While the officers may heed the PG, the rank and file are turning increasingly to the Soviet cause and even wearing red ribbons. -
Kronstadt Rebellion
20,000 sailors from the Kronstadt base joined workers in marching first to the Bolshevik headquarters and then to the Duma itself, to try to install a surprisingly heasitant Bolshevik party and Lenin into power. -
Lenin in Hiding
Lenin and Grigorii Zinoviev went into hiding, while Trotsky and others were thrown into jail. Joseph Stalin becomes, somewhat randomly, the most important Bolshevik left standing. -
All Power to the Bolsheviks!
Lenin revises his earlier sloga to "All power to the working class led by its revolutionary party, the Bolshevik-Communists!" This sort of begins the Leninist concept of the Vanguard. -
Chernov Resigns
Victor Chernov resigns as Foreign Minister. -
Kornilov Demands Reforms
Supreme army commander to the Provisional Government Lavr Kornilov presents the government with demands to return the army to its former state. He wants the death penalty brought back, for both civilians and the army, he wants power handed back to the offiers, he wants Bolshevik units disbanded, and he wants censorship at the front again, in the effort to either win the war, or to defend the homeland. I'm not sure what his personal goal is, -
Kornilov's Inexplicable Bid for Power
Kornilov believed he would be backed by Kerensky, and tried to fortify a military dictatorship in Petrograd. Kornilov backs out, arms the workers and prevents Kornilov's forces from entering the city. Kornilov is arrested. -
Bolsheviks' Win Absolute Majority
The Petrograd soviet votes (workers and solders together) the Bolsheviks into power. -
Trotsky Elected Chairman
The Bolsheviks are the majority in the Petrograd soviet, and elect Trotsky as their chairman. -
Lenin Returns to Petrograd
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Lenin calls for an uprising
During a session of the Bolshevik Central Committee, Lenin convinces them to put an armed uprising on the table. -
Provisional Government Rallies
The government organizes troops to defend against an expected Bolshevik attack and push for power. -
Petrograd falls into Soviet hands
Lenin makes his way to the Smolny Institute. By 9pm that night, Soviet forces had taken essentially all of Petrograd, with what appears to be no resistence. -
Actually, All Power to the Soviets
The Second All-Russia Congress of Soviets declares all power to the soviets. -
Second Congress of Societs
The Bolshevik-Left SRs create a government with them in the majority. The Right SRs and Mensheviks walk out in protest to this attack on the Provisional Government. Trotsky condemns them to the "garbage heap of history." -
Lenin Calls for Peace
After the departure of the Mensheviks and other centerists, Lenin calls for an immediate armistice. -
First (and only) Constituent Assembly
Following the disappointment of the November all-Russia elections, in which the Bolsheviks won only 24% of the vote, trailing to the SRs 40%, the Assembly meets with its elected repreresentitives. Lenin demands power, but the SR leader, Chernov, is not so into it. While the Assembly was elected, the Bolsheviks still held all the actual power, namely the workers in the cities, and the majority of the armed forces. -
Lenin Dissolves Constituent Assembly
The Constituent Assembly is bolted overnight, after Chernov refuses to hand Lenin power. The Red Guards disperse any protests.