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Bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday is a massacre that took place in St. Petersburg following discontent with Tsar Nicholas II’s leadership and the war with Japan. A group of workers ended up marching to Nicholas’ palace to make demands. Imperial guards opened fire, wounded hundreds of people. This is important because it proved that the current government was unwilling to change, causing groups like the Bolsheviks to grow in power. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bloody-sunday-massacre-in-russia -
Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
On June 28, 1914, Gavrilo Princip shot and killed Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie. This is an important event because it essentially sparked WWI. Although it may not have been the only reason the war started, it was certainly one of the main driving points going into the war. Exactly one month after Ferdinand’s death, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. https://www.history.com/news/the-assassination-of-archdauke-franz-ferdinand-100-years-ago -
WWI Begins
Worried that declaring war on Serbia would cause its ally Russia to intervene, Austria-Hungary chose to gain reassurance from Germany. After Germany secretly pledged to assist their cause, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, exactly a month after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. This event is important because this marked the beginning of one of the deadliest world conflicts in history. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history -
Germany Invades Belgium
German Invasion of Belgium: Before the Germans were to declare war on France, they would need free passage through Belgium for a better chance at victory. This led Germany to invade Belgium after they denied Germany's request for free passage. This is an important event because it led Great Britain to join the war in an attempt to defend Belgium and push back the impending danger. http://www.historyforkids.net/germany-invades-belgium.html -
Sinking of the Lusitania
On May 7, 1915, a German U-Boat attacked and destroyed a British luxury cruise ship, the Lusitania. The attack killed about 1,128 people including roughly 128 Americans. This event is important because it severely impacted relations between a currently neutral United States and Germany. This was one of the events that would cause the United States to enter WWI. https://www.history.com/news/how-the-sinking-of-lusitania-changed-wwi -
Germany Resumes Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
On February 1, 1917, Germany chose to continue unrestricted submarine warfare after temporarily suspending it in response to the United State and other countries’ request. This is an important event because it further strains diplomatic relations between the United States and Germany. This would provide more reasons for the United States to join the war. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-resumes-unrestricted-submarine-warfare -
Zimmerman Telegram
In early 1917, British intelligence intercepted a telegram from Germany to Mexico. It proposed an alliance with Mexico should the United States decide to enter WWI. In return, Germany promised military and financial support to aide in the war, as well as the opportunity to annex Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. This is important because the contents of the telegraph would eventually push the United States the enter WWI. https://www.history.com/news/what-was-the-zimmermann-telegram -
Febuary Revolution
The February Revolution was an event in Russia when riots and strikes over food scarcity erupted in what is now St. Petersburg. Many Russians had lost faith in the leadership of the czarist regime.This is important because the February Revolution caused the imperial government to be overthrown, and a provisional government in its place. It effectively ended four centuries of Czarist rule. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/february-revolution-begins-in-russia -
Russian Provisional Government Established
After the fall of the Czar, the Russian Revolution introduced the Provisional government. This government made things like freedom of speech, assembly, more. It was a temporary government, and therefore did not make many reforms. The Provisional Government was an important phase because it allowed Vladimir Lenin and his Bolshevik party to attack the government on problems it was unable to solve. This contributed to the Lenin’s rise to power.
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The United States enters WWI
The United States Enters WWI: Two days after the U.S. senate voted 82 to 6 to declare war against Germany, the U.S. House of Representatives supports the declaration by a vote of 373 to 50. This marks America’s entry into WWI. This is important because America’s entry into the war marked a major turning point. The United States’ well supplied and trained forces would aid the Allies to victory. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/america-enters-world-war-i -
October Revolution
The October Revolution, Also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, was the second and last major phase of the Russian Revolution of 1917. The Bolshevik party took power in Russia, inaugurating the Soviet regime. This was important because it brought a new way of thinking about economy, society, and politics. This also caused the communist movement to slowly develop, frightening the Capitalist world. https://academic.mu.edu/meissnerd/russian-rev.htm -
Formation of the Council of People's Commissars
The Council of People's Commissars was a government institution formed after the October Revolution of 1917. The council began forming the USSR, with Vladimir Lenin as the founder. This is important because the government soon negotiated the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which would withdraw Russia from WWI. It would govern the USSR for the next 20--30 years. https://alphahistory.com/russianrevolution/soviet-government/ -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
On March 3, 1918, Russia signed a treaty with the Central Powers, effectively ending its participation in WWI. This is an important event because it marked Russia’s withdrawal from WWI, loss of territory to Germany, and was one of the first things the Bolsheviks did after taking over the government. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/treaties-of-brest-litovsk -
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Battle of Belleau Wood
Battle of Belleau Wood: The German offensive had penetrated the Western front about 45 miles from Paris. U.S. forces under General John J. Pershing halted the German advance. This is important because the battle marks the farthest German advance on Paris. Belleau wood also marked the first large scale battle fought by American soldiers in WWI, causing roughly 10,000 casualties. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-belleau-wood-begins -
The Assassination of Tsar Nicholas II
Throughout his rule, Nicholas faced growing discontent and more from his citizens. During the Bolshevik uprising, he was imprisoned by and eventually executed alongside his family. This is an important event because after the murder of the Tsar and his family, news of his death completely overshadowed Bolshevik victories. The people of Russia also mourned his death and made many yearn for a monarchy. https://www.history.com/news/romanov-family-murder-execution-reasons -
Wilhelm Abdicates
Wilhelm abdicates his throne: In late 1918, Germany had begun feeling the effects of the war. This convinced political leaders the Wilhelm had to be abdicated to keep civil order. Even Germany’s military leaders had stated that Wilhelm had lost their support as well. This is important because it essentially ends all hopes of winning the war for Germany. By the time Wilhelm had abdicated, Germany was crippled. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/kaiser-wilhelm-ii -
Organization of the Whites
The whites were a group of anti-Bolsheviks that assembled all over Russia. The Whites lacked the necessary resources and support to be fully functional and as powerful and the Reds. The formation of the Whites is important because they would engage the Reds in a civil war, another major event in the Russian Revoltuion. Whoever emerges victorious would decide Russia’s future. https://alphahistory.com/russianrevolution/white-armies/ -
Formation of the Red Army
The Red Army was a Soviet army created by the Bolshevik party. It was formed in order to protect the party during the Russian Civil War. Although loyal, they lacked proper training, discipline, and combat readiness. The formation of the Red Army was important because it was essentially the first and only military force that was formed after the Bolshevik party took over the government. It was the military force used by Russia for years. https://alphahistory.com/russianrevolution/red-army/ -
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil war was a conflict in which the Red Army successfully defended the newly formed Bolshevik party against several anti-Bolshevik parties. These people were known and Whites. This was quite an important event because the Bolshevik victory eventually led to the formation of the USSR, the next big step in Russia’s history. http://sites.bu.edu/revolutionaryrussia/student-research/katherine-ruiz-diaz/ -
WWI ends, Treaty of Versailles
WWI officially ended on June 28, 1919 with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty was negotiated and written mostly by the allies. It reassigned German borders, limited its military, assigned reparations, and placed the blame for the war on Germany. This was an extremely important event because it would set up Hitler for his rise to power and the beginning of WWII. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/treaty-of-versailles-1
