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Czar Nicholas Rule
Nicholas II continued the tradition of Russian autocracy. -
Industrialization
The number of factories more than doubled between 1863 and 1900, yet Russia was still behind the western nations of western Europe. The government took many steps to boost the growth of heavy industry, particularly steel. The growth of factories brought new problems such as horrible working conditions, miserably low wages, and child labor. Workers unhappy with their low standard of living and lack of political power organized strikes. -
Development of Revolutionary Groups
Many revolutionary groups form and compete for power. A group called the Marxists formed and thought that the industrial class of workers would overthrow the czar. The Russian Marxists split up into two different groups over revolutionary tactics. The more racidal Bolsheviks supported a small # of commited revolutionaries willing to sacrifice everything for change. The more moderate Men sheviks wanted a broad base of popular support for the revolution. -
Bloody Sunday
About 200,000 workers and their families approached the czar's Winter Palace in St. Petersburg carrying a petition. They were asking for better working conditions, more personal freedom, and elected national legislature. Nicholas II's generals ordered soldiers to fire on the crowd wounding more than 1,000 people and killing several hundred. In October Nicholas attempted the creation of Russias first Parliament, the Duma, but he was hesitant to share his power and it dissolved after 10 weeks. -
World War I
Nicholas II dragged Russia into WWI. They were unprepared economically and militarily leading to more than 4 million Russian soldiers being killed, wounded, or taken prisoner before one year had passed. No one was capable of tackling the enormous problems they faced. -
The Czar Steps Down
Nicholas II was forced to step down from throne, and a year later the revolutionaries executed Nicholas and his family. Leaders of the Duma established a temporary, or provisional government. -
The March Revolution
Women textile workers in Petrograd led a citywide strike. Riots started up over shortages of bread and feul. Nearly 200,000 workers swarmed the streets shouting. The soldier obeyed orders to shoot the rioters in the begining, but late they sided with them. -
The Bolshevik Revolution
The Bolsheviks and Lenin gained control of Petrograd soviet, as well as the soviets in other major Russian cities. The Bolshevik Red Guards stormed the Winter Palace taking over gov't offices and arresting the leaders of the provisional gov't. The Bolshevik were in power and they gave control of factories to to the workers. The Bolsheviks also signed a truce with Germany to stop all fighting and begin peace talks. Next, the Bolsheviks formed the White Army to face their enemies at home. -
Lenin in Power
Lenin started a plan called the New Economic Policy, that was a small-scale version of capitalism. This policy and the peace that nist followed the civil war helped to slowly recover Russia. Around 1924 Lenin established dictatorship of the Communist Party, or the Bolsheviks -
Stalin become a Dictator
Stalin worked for his power starting in 1922 and in 1928 Stalin had absolute power as dictator of the Communist Party.
