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Splitting of Revolutionaries
Marxists revolutionaries disagree over revolutionary tactics. The more radical Bolsheviks are ready to risk everything. The charismatic Vladimir Lenin becomes the leader. -
Japanese Attack
The japanese attacked the Russians at Port Arthur, Manchuria. News of repeated Russian losses sparked unrest at home and led to a revolt in the midst of war. They were fighting for control of Korea and Manchuria. -
Petitioning for Rights
About 200,000 worlers and their families approachhed the czar's winter palace in St. Petersburg. They carried a petition asking for better working conditions, more personal freedom, and an election to choose a national legislature. Nicholas II's generals ordered their soldiers soldiers to shoot at the crowd and more than 1,000 people were injured. This event was called Bloody Sunday. -
Moderate Dissolving
In 1906, the first Duma met. Its leaders were moderates who wanted Russia to become a constitutional monarch, similar to Britain. After ten weeks, the Czar dissolved the Duma because he didnt want to give up his power. -
Russia enters WWI
Nicholas made the bold decision to enter World War 1. Russia was very unprepared for the German firepower. They had very poor generals, and weakly equipped troops. Russia was also not ready to pay for the huge cost for going to war, and they suffered for it. -
Women strike against Autocracy
Women in the city of Petrograd led a strike against autocracy. The soldier shot at them at first, but after a while actually sided with them. The protests forced the Czar to step down. -
Workers attack
Armed factory workers stormed the winter palace. They called themselves the Bolshevik Red Guards and they took over Government offices and arrested the leaders of the provisional Government. The replacements of the Czar disappeared almost as quickly as the Czarist Regime they had replaced. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Russia and Germany signed the treasty of Brest-Litovsk. Russia gave up a lot of territory to Germany and it's allies. Many Russians were very angry about the signing of the treaty. -
Revolutionary War
A revolutionary war broke out in Russia between the people who wanted a czar to rule and people who wanted a democratic government. Around 14 million Russians died over a three year span. The Red Army, who supported a democratic government, crushed the opposition. This revolution was similar to the French revolution. -
New Economic Policy
Lenin put off his idea of having a state-controlled economy and created a small-scale version of capitolism called the "New Economic Policy." This was good for peasents because they could sell their surplus crops for money instead of turning them over to the government. The government controlled major industries, banks, et cetera. They also encouraged foreign investments. -
Lenin and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Lenin had a stroke, but survived. This was also the time when Russia became Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Since Russia was now a communist party, people were competing for who would be the next leader of Russia, once Lenin had to step down, or died. Joseph Stalin seemed to be a very suitable man for the job.
